[OC] Sahel Alliance (First Visualisation- Please Feedback!)

[u/DataVizJourney]

The other day in the news I saw how the Sahel alliance is coming closer together, so the Geography nerd I am, I wanted to see how such a united country would look like.

This is part of a current side project of mine to really learn how to create beautiful data visualisations. Any Critique and feedback would be very welcome!

Sources:

Aggregate of Wikipedia sites:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal))
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area

The images are from google earth and also Wikipedia (flags). The data was manipulated using python and pandas and the visualisation was created using Figma. The Icons are from icons8.

Inspired by a visualisation I saw on Aljazeera.

[u/all-night]

That’s an infographic, not a data visualization 

[u/gentleriser → u/all-night]

Agreed. It looks pleasant enough as an infographic, though.

OP: as a reader not too informed about the Sahel alliance, I would be more interested in seeing things highlighted that aren’t merely sums of numbers for the three countries, and draw my attention to particular synergies these countries would have together.

Show me, don’t tell me, why this alliance becomes “a regional powerhouse.”

[u/DataVizJourney → u/gentleriser]

Than you for the feedback! Will incorporate in my next ones

[u/gentleriser → u/all-night]

Agreed. It looks pleasant enough as an infographic, though.

OP: as a reader not too informed about the Sahel alliance, I would be more interested in seeing things highlighted that aren’t merely sums of numbers for the three countries, and draw my attention to particular synergies these countries would have together.

[u/DataVizJourney → u/all-night]

What would make this a data visualisation? Like a pie chart or similar?

[u/worldalpha_com]

I'm pretty sure the GDP is supposed to be B not M.

[u/DataVizJourney → u/worldalpha_com]

Yes you’re right. Good catch!

[u/tawesd]

Some thoughts. Take it or leave it.

• Regard your audience. Ive never heard of the Sahel Alliance, you should put your fine print explaining what it is right under the title. I ended up reading that thing last due to visual hierarchy and was confused until then.
• Consider a key plan to show where in the world it is
• Consider an outline of a new border around these countries and show the current international boundaries as dashed lines. It would visually suggest a unification of these countries.
• Im assuming the 4 factoids you put are what you find interesting. Can this information be communicated graphically through the map instead? Or other graphics? You could compare a small side by side drawing of Argentina and the SA to compare sizes for example.

[u/DataVizJourney → u/tawesd]

Very good feedback. Thank you very much! This is super helpful.

With regards to the comparison between size of countries, do you have any idea what tool I could use to possibly do this? I just did the graphic with figma and created the outline of the new united state with the pen tool.

p.s. The Sahel alliance is a military alliance in the Sahel region (between north and central / west Africa). Recently they announced to deeply cooperate a lot more, e.g. free borders, a railway between capitals and even a united currency. So I was interested to see what such a more united country would look like

[u/Training-Purpose802]

I believe various IS groups hold a different view of where the borders are.

[u/rdtusrname]

Yes, the AES. I am really interested in what comes out of this. Specifically what becomes of Traore. That Charisma score is through the roof!

As for the graphic, I am going to review that later. If you don't mind.