Title: Introduction
The world is a complex place, and understanding and visualizing complex relationships is essential for making informed decisions. Diagrams have been fundamental tools in communicating complex information since ancient times. However, traditional diagram formats can get tedious and complex, particularly in visualizing relationships between variables that are highly interrelated. Sankey charts were created to remedy those problems. In this article, we will discuss the creation and applications of Sankey charts to visualize complex relationships.
The History of Diagrams and Sankey Charts
Before we introduce Sankey charts, we should look at the history of diagrams and their evolution. The first diagrams were created around 600 BC, which were used for religious purposes. Diagrams have been used in science, education, politics, and business to communicate complex information, but they have not always been efficient or effective in representing relationships. The development of Sankey charts in the mid-20th century revolutionized the way we visualize relationships among variables, particularly between quantitative and qualitative variables.
Sankey charts are a graphic representation of flow of information between variables. The name “Sankey” is the pseudonym of David Liddick, a British sociologist, who co-discovered this type of chart. From the early 1980s, there was a surge in interest in Sankey charts and their applications, leading to their popularization among scientists, business analysts, and marketers. This shift is due to advancements in software and technology, as well as increased awareness of the need for more efficient communication.
Sankey chart creation and applications
Sankey charts are created by following a series of steps. First, one must decide on their data, which should be quantitative or qualitative, and then decide on the type of flow that will be displayed within the chart. The flow directions must be clearly defined, as they represent the direction of information flow. Next, one must choose a software tool to create the chart, such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, or Google Data Studio. The flow diagram must then be drawn within the software, using arrows to represent the direction of the flow. Finally, customize the chart’s appearance and layout, setting up the flow direction, and adding any additional labels or data analysis tools.
Sankey charts have a wide range of applications in various fields. In finance, they are commonly used to represent the direction of money flows within different financial instruments and markets. In transportation, they are used to visualize the flow of goods and services. In education, they can represent the direction of information flow between students in a class. In marketing, they can represent the flow of customer data between different channels and stages of the purchase journey.
In conclusion, Sankey charts are powerful visual aids in communicating complex relationships among variables. They are a simple but effective tool in the graphic design world and represent their users with respect to a flow of data. Sankey charts have revolutionized the art of graphic design and communication, and their widespread use shows no signs of waning.
Sources:
– Sankey charts: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankeychart
– Sankey charts in finance: Medium, https://medium.com/@rashmet/fundamental-sankey-chart-examples-in-financial-analysis-96db92100e6a
– Sankey charts in education: SlideShare, https://www.slideshare.net/jonnyboy/bibliographicguideforsankeydiagramsin_education #biblio #sankeychart #education #diagrams #technology #data #analytics.
SankeyMaster
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