The Information is Beautiful Awards have been recognizing exceptional data visualizations since their inception in 2012. Over the past decade, they have highlighted the innovative and creative work of designers, scientists, and journalists across the globe. From beautifully designed infographics to interactive maps and motion graphics, the awards showcase a diverse range of data visualizations that make complex information more accessible.
Here, we have compiled a list of 10 mind-blowing data visualizations from the Information is Beautiful Awards that demonstrate how creativity and data can come together to create insightful and engaging content.
1. “Climate Stripes” by Ed Hawkins – This amazing data visualization shows the changes in global temperature over the past 150 years. Hawkins assigned each year a color based on its temperature, so a gradual shift from blue to red indicates an increase in global temperature.
2. “The Pudding’s Year in Language” – This interactive data visualization allows users to explore how language is used in different regions across America. It uses data from Twitter to highlight the most popular phrases and words in each state.
3. “The Internet Map” by Ruslan Enikeev – This map of the internet visualizes the interconnectedness of the most popular websites. The size and proximity of the bubbles indicate the website’s popularity and how closely it’s connected to other sites.
4. “The Guardian’s record-breaking year for ecosystems” – This data visualization maps out the changes in ecosystems around the world through the stories published by The Guardian. It shows how environmental issues unfolded geographically over the past several years.
5. “Global droughts and floods” by Carbon Brief – Using interactive maps, this visualization allows users to track drought and flood events worldwide. It shows how these events can have a significant impact on different regions and populations.
6. “The Billion Dollar-o-Gram” by David McCandless – This stunning visualization showcases how governments and businesses are spending the most money. The size of each box represents how much money has been spent on that specific item.
7. “The True Size of Africa” by Kai Krause – This map correctly portrays the actual size of Africa as compared to how it is traditionally represented on maps. It highlights the vastness of the continent and how traditional maps tend to skew its size.
8. “The Data Privacy Lab’s Identity Trail” – This interactive visual allows users to explore how various websites collect and utilize personal data. It highlights the need for proper data privacy regulations and the implications of not having them.
9. “The Growth of Walmart” – This data visualization highlights Walmart’s exponential growth over the years. It shows how the company has expanded its reach and market share consistently.
10. “The Network of Global Corporate Control” by Vitali, Glattfelder, and Battiston – This visualization maps out the connections between the different companies and their stakeholders. It highlights how a small group of companies control a significant portion of the global economy.
In conclusion, data visualizations are an incredible way to make complex information more accessible and understandable. Creative and innovative designers, journalists, and scientists can communicate their insights and findings through data visualization. The 10 examples mentioned above prove that data visualization is a powerful tool that can make a significant impact on how we understand and appreciate data.
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