📊 FIT3179 Assignment 2 – Interactive Data Storytelling

Live Project: https://yunkai030.github.io/FIT3179-Assignment-2-Interactive-Data-Storytelling/

🧠 Overview

This project was developed for the FIT3179 – Data Visualisation subject at Monash University. The goal was to design an engaging, interactive storytelling webpage using real-world data and D3/Vega-Lite charts. My topic focuses on global deforestation, aiming to highlight patterns, causes, and country-level trends.

✅ What Went Well

• 🌍 Meaningful Topic Choice
  Tackles an urgent global issue — deforestation — making the story socially relevant and compelling.

• 📐 Structured Narrative Flow
  Each section builds on the last, taking users from a general global view to more specific insights.

• 📊 Interactive Visualizations
  Used Vega-Lite and D3.js to create maps, bar charts, and line charts with hover and filter capabilities.

• 🎨 Visual Styling
  A coherent color palette and consistent font styling enhance readability and visual engagement.

• 📱 Deployed Online
  Fully responsive and accessible via GitHub Pages.

❗ What Could Be Improved

This project was built under time and assignment constraints. Here's what could be done better in a future revision:

1. 📉 Data Accuracy and Depth

• The dataset used for deforestation may lack up-to-date or granular detail for some countries.
• More contextual datasets (e.g., reforestation efforts, policy interventions, economic drivers) could deepen the analysis.

2. ⚙️ Interactivity

• Some charts are static or offer limited interactivity (e.g., the global map).
• Tooltips and filters could be more dynamic and tailored for user exploration.

3. 💬 Text-Chart Integration

• In some sections, the explanatory text could more directly reference the visualizations ("as seen in the chart above...").
• More annotations or storytelling cues would help guide the user.

4. 🧱 Code Modularity

• JavaScript and Vega-Lite code could be refactored into cleaner modules or reusable components.
• A config-driven approach would make future updates easier.

5. 📱 Mobile Optimization

• While the layout works on mobile, some charts are not fully optimized for smaller screens (e.g., axis labels overlap or become unreadable).