Storytelling with Data
Using Dan Harmon’s Story Circle to tell a compelling story with data and information visualization
I’ve been toying with the concept of storytelling with information visualization, and while in the throes of finding a way to marry the two concepts, I thought of a crazy idea: what if we used Dan Harmon’s Story Circle as a framework for crafting a compelling story with data science?
Dan Harmon’s Story Circle
Dan Harmon is the brilliant mind behind cult favorite shows, “Community” and “Rick and Morty”. People are drawn to these shows because of their complex and lovable characters, and the way their stories create a meaningful connection with us.
Harmon’s framework for writing a compelling story is broken into eight parts:
1: You - A character is in a zone of comfort
2: Need - But they want something
3: Go - They enter an unfamiliar situation
4: Search - Adapt to it
5: Find - Get what they wanted
6: Take - Pay a heavy price for it
7: Return - Then return to their familiar situation
8: Change - Having changed
You can learn more about it by watching the video below:
With that, I will now expound on how we can apply these principles in telling a compelling story using data and information visualization.
1: You
In writing a story, this is where we establish the protagonist. The main character(s) are introduced, and we gain an understanding of the world in which they live, its rules, and how they fit inside it.
In data analytics, this is where we establish the study. We introduce the subject and understand the context surrounding it; the domain in which it belongs, the rules it must abide by, and its place within the domain.
2: Need
In a story, this is where we discover what the protagonist needs. We learn about their main goal, which will be the pursuit that guides the rest of the story.
In data analytics, this is where we define the problem. We define the purpose and the goal of the study, identify desired outcomes and the questions that will drive the metrics of the data.
3: Go
This is the part of a story where the protagonist first steps across the threshold in pursuit of the need. They leave their world behind and venture into the unknown.
In data analytics, this is where we initiate the study. We identify the key factors that influence the outcomes, and the metrics for measuring and calculating for these key factors.
4: Search
Also known as “the road of trials” in a story, this is where the protagonists address the need by searching for an answer by going through a series of obstacles they must overcome.
In the realm of data analytics, this is the part where we address the questions by defining the data to be presented and the appropriate dimensions to represent this data. This is also where we define the structures of the data and the interaction required from the visualization.
5: Find
In a story, this is where the protagonist finds their need, however realizes that they need something else. This is the part where the plot and character development often collide.
Whereas in data analytics, this is where we analyze the data to uncover insights that will drive the answers to the questions identified at the beginning of the study.
6: Take
Known as the “Magic Flight” in a story, this is where the protagonist takes what they find and runs away with it. In a heartbreaking moment, this is also the part where the protagonist suffers through heavy losses, in spite of their initial success.
This is the evaluation piece in data analytics. We Take our insights and use that to confirm our assumptions, answer our questions, and identify concepts that were overlooked as well as areas that require special attention.
7: Return
In a story, this is where the protagonist goes back home along with whatever it was they found and took. It could be a person, a lesson, or a magical item -in the end, the protagonist is changed as a result of this.
We are also “bringing it home” in data analytics by using our findings to drive decisions in order to create a meaningful change in the subject. This is also where we identify action items and propose strategies in order to resolve issues and/or improve the current state of things.
8: Change
The part of the story where the protagonist becomes a master of both worlds and experiences a profound change in themselves and/or the world around them (for better or for worse).
We illuminate the many possibilities thanks to the insights unfurled from the data. Having gained a fresh perspective on the subject inspires a change in what they are and the impact that they leave.
In Conclusion
One of the most effective ways to share information is in the form of storytelling. By relaying insights and evaluations unfurled by data in the form of a story, we are able to create a genuine connection with people and hence creaet a meaningful impact in their lives and in our world.
Yes, this truly is a weird approach, but I hope this inspires you to try this framework the next time you’re looking to share insights from your analytic research.