Visualizing Flow: The Creative Uses of Sankey Charts

Sankey diagrams, named after Captain Thomas Sankey, an Irish inventor, have evolved from their original applications for displaying steam engine efficiency to become a versatile tool for visualizing complex flows of information across various fields. These diagrams effectively represent the flow of quantities between different activities or states and are particularly useful in illustrating processes that have multiple inputs and outputs or for showing conversions from one set of values to another. In this article, we’ll explore the creative uses of Sankey charts, focusing on their creation process as well as their application in different industries.

The Essence of Sankey Charts

Sankey diagrams consist of series of bars that are laid out parallel to each other. The length of each bar corresponds to the magnitude of flow relative to other flows. As a result, Sankey diagrams are excellent at showing the comparison between different flows and pathways, making them a powerful visual tool for analyzing complex systems. In addition to their practical applications in energy analysis, environmental science, economics, and energy system analysis, Sankey diagrams have found creative and educational uses in numerous other fields.

Creative Uses of Sankey Charts

The beauty of Sankey charts lies in their adaptability as visual communication tools. Here are some creative applications of Sankey charts, beyond their traditional uses:

Social Media Influence: Track the spread of a viral post, tweet, or story across different social media platforms to understand the effectiveness of each platform in terms of engagement and reach.
Movie Production and Cost Breakdown: Highlight the financial flow of a movie production, showing expenses from script development to post-production and distribution.
Data Science Process: Break down the flow of data through the data science pipeline, from data collection and preprocessing to analysis and visualization stages.
Sustainable Fashion: Illustrate the journey of sustainable fabrics from source to product, showcasing carbon footprint and water usage along the way.
Education: Model the flow of a student’s academic journey, showing where students are likely to encounter difficulties and how educational resources can address these challenges.

Creating Sankey Diagrams

Creating a Sankey diagram involves several steps, ranging from data collection and preparation to visualization. The process can vary slightly depending on the software used, but here’s a general guide:

Step 1: Data Collection and Cleaning

Collect data on quantities flowing from one state to another. This could involve counting, percentages, or measurements.
Ensure your data is clean and organized to facilitate analysis and visualization.

Step 2: Data Preparation

Decide on the order and direction of your sankey diagram (e.g., left to right, top to bottom).
Determine the flow units (e.g., number of items, tons, percentage).

Step 3: Visualization

Choose a tool such as Excel, Tableau, or Python libraries (e.g., Plotly or Matplotlib) that can create Sankey diagrams.
Use the tool to input your data and visualize it. Many tools will automatically calculate the positioning and connections of the flow segments based on your data.

Step 4: Customization

Customize the appearance of your diagram, including color, font, and text labels.
Double-check your diagram for accuracy and clarity.

Step 5: Analysis and Interpretation

Once the diagram is created, analyze it to derive insights from the data.
Provide context and interpretation to help your audience understand the importance of the visualization.

Conclusion

Sankey diagrams are a powerful tool for visualizing complex data flows. By understanding their creation process and exploring various creative applications, professionals can harness the effectiveness of these diagrams to communicate complex information in intuitive and engaging ways. Whether through social media trends, movie production costs, or educational data, Sankey charts offer a unique and visual approach to understanding flow and change across fields.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.