Week 13 Standout Viz – Use an Annotations

What is an Annotation?

Annotations are one of the simplest yet most powerful storytelling tools in data visualization. Instead of relying on the viewer to “figure it out,” annotations guide them by:

  • Highlighting key insights

  • Explaining important outliers

  • Giving context to surprising values

  • Telling a micro-story inside the larger narrative

In Tableau, annotations can come in the form of mark annotations, point callouts, labels, or even floating text. Used well, they improve clarity without clutter.

This week’s dataset explores the most expensive sports team sales in history. It features the top 10 franchises by sale price, almost all based in the United States. These sales span NBA, NFL, MLB, and one standout international club: Chelsea FC.

The Dataset includes:

  • Team: Franchise name

  • Sport: NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.

  • Sale Price (Billion USD): The deal size

  • Country: Location of the team

Standout Viz of the Week: Use an Annotation by Tsutomu Ikeda

Click here to view the dashboard on Tableau Public

Why it Stands Out:

  • A Bold Use of Circular Layout: Instead of traditional bar or column charts, Tsutomu uses a radial layout to showcase team sale prices, giving the viz an immediate visual edge. The circular format draws the eye inward and makes comparisons more engaging.

  • Smart, Focused Annotation: The annotation is placed thoughtfully to highlight the standout insight: the Lakers’ estimated $10B sale. It's clean, prominent, and explains the chart without taking over the design, exactly how annotations should work.

  • Effective Use of Space: Despite using a non-linear format, the spacing between elements is well-balanced. Each data point is legible, and the layout avoids visual clutter, which can often happen with radial charts.

  • Encodes Multiple Insights at Once: The combination of position, color, and annotation communicates more than just value; it shows context, contrast, and location (e.g., Chelsea FC as the lone non-US team, cleverly set apart in the layout).

  • Clean, Minimalist Aesthetic: The background is dark and simple, which makes the arcs and text pop. This gives the visualization a sleek, modern feel while keeping the focus on the data and annotation.

Want to Learn Annotation?

Here are a few helpful resources to get you started with Annotation:

Follow Us & Explore More

Sometimes, it's the subtle touches that leave a lasting impression, and this week, Tsutomu delivered one of those moments. The rotating interaction of the viz is not just visually satisfying, but also enhances exploration and flow.

Big shoutout to Tsutomu for crafting a chart that's not only informative but also delightful to interact with. It’s a reminder that great design can be both beautiful and smart.

Victory Omovrah