more than just charts
Building insight, one chart at a time
tools create visuals. Understanding creates impact.
With so many visualisation tools available today, it’s easy to get lost in the visuals, but the real power lies in what the visuals say. My mission is to demystify data storytelling and share timeless concepts anyone can apply, regardless of which tool they use.
my approach to data visualisation
My approach is rooted in design principles. I design for the human brain and prefer clarity over decoration.
This site is where I share what I’ve learned so you can create visuals that inform, persuade and resonate – one chart at a time.
If you want to turn your data into stories that truly connect, let’s work together.
Data visualisation designer
Helping teams communicate with data
Hi, I’m Vidya. I design charts and data visuals that help people understand what matters, and act on it. For the past ten years I have been writing, teaching, and practising data visualisation at Daydreaming Numbers, where I explore the intersection of design, perception, and communication.
Background
My path into data visualisation came through a genuine frustration: I kept seeing people working data create charts that buried their own insights. The data was good. The story was there. But the visual choices – incorrect chart types, excessive colours, insufficient context – made it impossible for the audience to see what was already clear beneath the surface.
That experience gradually evolved into a more constructive pursuit: making those hidden stories more visible and shareable. Over the last 10 years I have published chart makeovers, design guides and tutorials covering everything from the fundamentals of visual perception to specific techniques like slopegraphs, annotations and cycle plots.
I have worked across a range of datasets and contexts, including consumer behaviour, public policy, labour economics, environmental data and operational metrics. My community work include volunteering as a visualisation designer for non-profits, participating in #MakeOverMonday and #SWDChallenge, two global data visualisation communities.
Who I work with
I work with non-profits organisations, research teams and corporate analytics departments who need their data to inform decisions. My clients include policy researchers translating complex datasets for stakeholders, operations teams distilling metrics for leadership, and consultants who need their findings to land with impact.