Dudes, the State of the Union is my Superbowl. I look forward to this event like some people anticipate the Oscars. This is my deal. Why? Because the enhanced version of the SOTU features a data-based slideshow, a perfect study in how graphics can help underscore a point. And, as every year, the White House graphic design team hits some out of the park and strikes out on others.

The most major change I noticed this year is that there were FAR fewer graphics than in years past. I was hungry for visuals and they weren’t feeding me. BUT it made me focus on the president a lot more than I normally would.

Data Visualization

That said, what data they did have was literally front and center, taking over the whole screen. Way to show the world we are in love with our data!

That said, I saw other places where I was wishing the data could be visualized.

These Iraq and Syria numbers would have had a bigger impact if they were visualized, even as a simple pie chart.

And some basic visualization of this data would have helped the audience interpret the extent of the increase or decrease at a glance.

Graphics

In general, this year the data visualization took a back seat. So did illustrations. I found myself missing the icons from yesteryear. The visuals were mainly photographs, like this one, which I would have loved if it were flipped and he didn’t have his back to himself.

But they completely nailed it with this adorableness. *hearts explode across the nation*

And the word choice and typesetting in this one is really effective, needing no other graphic at all.

Color Coding

When I saw the agenda slide this year

my color coding geek antenna rose up out of my head. That kind of color coding helps me as an audience remember what section the President is in after getting distracted by my cute boyfriend snoring on the couch next to me. Yes I see that teal! Show me teal slides, baby!

And they did! The slides in the section on The Spirit of Innovation section, for example, used teal.

And they didn’t… This slide was in the green U.S. Leadership in the World section.

And of course, the looming question is how different these graphics will look next year, when a new president is SOTUing. Be sure I will be watching!

PS. I know it can be weird to mix politics and love (one of you is likely to start snoring) but don’t forget about my Data Nerd Valentine’s Cards for your sweetheart.