Motivated by a family diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, I felt compelled to delve into the data surrounding this condition. Understanding the impact it had on our family's outlook, I recognized the potential for data visualization to transform complex information into something easily understandable, especially for those trapped in a cycle of negativity, similar to what we experienced. With this in mind, I embarked on creating visual representations of the data, aiming to break down the facts into digestible pieces that could be easily grasped for those struggling with negativity. My hope is that these visualizations serve not only as educational tools but also as sources of comfort for those overwhelmed by fear, guiding them towards a more hopeful perspective on the future.
Initial research on chronic conditions and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) revealed significant facts: 60% of American adults have at least one chronic condition, with common ones including high blood pressure and diabetes. CML accounts for 15% of leukemia cases, but its life expectancy now closely aligns with the general population, thanks to treatments like TKIs, which normalize blood counts in nearly all patients. Additionally, 40-60% of CML patients can maintain remission without continued TKI use after achieving a deep molecular response. Feedback from MyHealth App interviews indicated a general lack of awareness about these facts, and even when informed, many found it challenging to remember this information due to the stress of their diagnosis.
Problem: The challenge is creating visual tools that simplify complex health data into digestible formats to help individuals with chronic conditions, like CML, overcome negativity and better grasp their health information.
My initial move involved collecting key facts and data regarding chronic conditions and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).
- 60 percent of American adults now live with at least one chronic condition; 42 percent have more than one.
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- The most common reported conditions are: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart attacks, and cancer.
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- About 15% of all new cases of leukemia are chronic myeloid leukemia. Source
- Life Expectancy of Patients With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Approaches the Life Expectancy of the General Population.
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- Nearly all patients treated with TKIs achieve a CHR, where blood counts return to normal levels.
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- Studies have shown that approximately 60% of CML patients who attempt TFR after achieving a sustained DMR are able to remain in remission without taking TKIs.
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From previous interviews conducted for the MyHealth App project, it became evident that a significant portion of individuals were unaware of these particular facts. Among those who recognized certain information, a few pointed out that although their doctors had shared these details during their first few visits, grasping and remembering such facts was difficult due to the distressing and overwhelming circumstances they faced in the beginning.
I brainstormed eight data visualization ideas to present complex data effectively, choosing "scrollytelling" as the best method. This approach, ranking above two other strong contenders, uses scrolling to reveal a mix of text, images, animations, and data visualizations interactively, making it ideal for detailed or complex information by breaking it down into understandable segments.
Solution: Develop a "scrollytelling" webpage to showcase information via data visualizations.
To begin exploring the most effective methods for presenting complex data, I initiated a brainstorming session aimed at generating eight diverse ideas for Data Visualization. I concluded that the optimal approach would be to adopt idea 2, which involves developing a "scrollytelling" web page for visualizing the data while simultaneously conveying information. With Idea 1 and Idea 3 closely following in second and third place, respectively.
Scrollytelling is a storytelling method that uses scrolling to progressively reveal text, images, animations, and data visualizations, creating an interactive and engaging web experience. It's effective for detailed narratives or complex data, breaking information into digestible parts and enhancing comprehension through visual elements.
The "scrollytelling" web page is divided into three sections to address key themes: 1) solidarity with readers through shared experiences, 2) showcasing advancements in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) treatment, and 3) promoting optimism for treatment-free remission. Strategies include personalized messaging, clear visualizations using the Gestalt principle, simplifying data interpretation, and innovative design to convey progress. The color scheme, inspired by the leukemia awareness ribbon, follows the 60-30-10 rule to enhance storytelling visually.
Now that I had a plan for addressing the issue, I began structuring the "scrollytelling" web page. I decided to divide it into three sections. Section 1: "You're not alone". - 2. CML advancements. - 3. Hope for remission.
In the first section, I aimed to reassure the reader that they are not alone. Drawing from research and personal experience, I understood how receiving initial bad news can feel isolating. Thus, the purpose of this section is to convey to the reader that they are not alone in their journey, that others have faced similar challenges, and that overcoming them is achievable.
Moving on to the second section, my goal was to highlight essential facts about Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) and showcase key data illustrating the advancements in medicine over time, emphasizing the ongoing improvements in treatment.
Lastly, in the third section, I intended to provide the reader with reasons to remain hopeful for the future. I planned to present studies demonstrating the possibility of achieving treatment-free remission, offering encouragement and optimism.
Section 1.1: For the first section, I aimed to quickly establish a connection, showing readers that others in similar situations have overcome their challenges, reinforcing the message, "If they can, so can you." I began by rephrasing the original message for a more personal touch and opted for a unique visualization technique to display the percentage.
Section 1.3: The data initially depicted patient counts, prompting me to translate these figures into percentages. Subsequently, I segmented the map's width according to these percentages, with each map portion symbolizing a specific condition. I'm convinced this approach more effectively illustrates the prevalence of these conditions across the US.
Section 2.1: Employing the Gestalt principle, in this section, I aimed to visually illustrate the concept of 15%. I utilized the principles of similarity and proximity to distinguish between CML patients and other leukemia cases.
Section 2.2: In this section, my goal was to highlight the advancements in medical treatment over time. The original graph required users to perform calculations to understand the results, with the y-axis representing additional life expectancy for 55-year-old patients, necessitating the addition of 55 to the y-axis values. This approach made the visualization confusing. Therefore, in my version, I pre-calculated all the necessary figures and plotted the results directly, making it much more straightforward to interpret.
Section 3: My aim was to instill a sense of hope for the future, starting with a rewording of the message to enhance its impact. I moved away from traditional pie charts to a design featuring circles reminiscent of a loading screen. This choice was meant to convey the idea that progress is imminent. Additionally, this design enabled me to overlay another circle to depict the Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) rates, an approach not feasible with pie charts.
Regarding color selection, I aimed to adhere to the 60-30-10 rule, drawing inspiration from the leukemia awareness ribbon for my accent color. I chose a dark complementary blue as my secondary color and selected a lighter color for my primary color.
A comprehensive "scrollytelling" web page prototype was created in Figma, showcasing the project's research, data, and visualizations. The next phase involves animating the prototype with D3.js and exploring data visualization presentations through video creation.
A detailed "scrollytelling" web page prototype was developed in Figma, reflecting insights from the discovery, definition, and development stages. This prototype visually embodies the solution, highlighting the research, data, and visualizations incorporated.
I also opted to produce a video as a way to experiment with various formats for showcasing the facts and data.
I wasn't quite satisfied with the initial version of the "most common conditions" section. Therefore, after experimenting with the video format, I discovered an alternative method to present the data.
The current representation is an improvement because it offers viewers a clearer visual representation of Leukemia cases in relation to all cases. Unlike the previous version, where conditions were divided into segments, this new approach more effectively illustrates the entire population as a whole before segmenting it into groups.
The subsequent phase involves transforming the prototype into a functional webpage. I am presently utilizing HTML/CSS/JavaScript (including D3.js) to materialize these concepts and facilitate the sharing of this information with those who require it.
