Feeling overwhelmed by data? Wondering what some of the economic data thrown around in the news actually means? This TED talk won’t answer all of those questions, but it does demonstrate the power and beauty of data visualization, and how this method of analyzing data can reveal new patterns. In economic development, data visualization helps us understand the broader economic context within which communities operate and helps us make strategic decisions about where resources should be allocated to encourage economic vitality. The relationships between different regions in the country, the relative impact of new policies, and broader shifts in global industry are all complex problems that data visualization can help us begin to understand.

David McCandless of Information is Beautiful talks data visualization in recently posted TED talk (above). He explains how information design can help us get through information glut on the Web and how simple charts can show patterns that we never would have seen otherwise. He uses his own works and collaborations as evidence.

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