Charting best practices
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The document provides best practices for charting data, discussing topics such as focusing on clearly showing the data rather than aesthetic features, using consistent color palettes and scales, and prioritizing the most important metrics. It also recommends avoiding unnecessary elements that can distract from the data, like textures, gradients, and extra dimensions. The goal is to design charts that effectively convey the essential information and insights from the data.
Charting best practices
- 1. Charting Best Practices Dave Fowler CEO @ Chartio
- 2. Physics at Gustavus MS EE at U of MN IBM Rochester Y Combinator Chartio
- 4. Edward Tufte Stephen Few Academic Business Focused Artistic Pragmatic High Level Specific
- 7. Chart Monster Data Hero
- 8. Type Textures Grid Colors Labels Scales Dimensions
- 9. “Does this look impressive enough?”
- 10. “Does this show the data clearly?”
- 11. Chart Types
- 12. 100 20 75 15 50 10 25 5 0 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 0 5 10 15 20 100 Year Profit Growth 75 2007 17 20% 50 2008 26 52% 25 2009 53 104% 2010 96 81.1% 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total Profit $11,689
- 13. Gauge Charts
- 15. Bullet Graph
- 16. Toy Charts
- 17. Pie Charts 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 80 60 40 20 0 2007 2009 2011
- 19. 16x larger r 4r
- 20. Chart “Attributes” to Avoid
- 21. Gradients 100 100 75 75 50 50 25 25 0 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2007 2008 2009 2010
- 22. “Does this add an extra dimension?”
- 23. Textures 100 100 75 75 50 50 25 25 0 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2007 2008 2009 2010
- 24. Extra Colors 100 100 75 75 50 50 25 25 0 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2007 2008 2009 2010
- 25. Dimensions 100 75 50 25 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
- 26. Dimensions 100 100 75 75 50 50 25 25 2010 2009 0 0 2008 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010
- 27. Backgrounds #F0EFE9
- 28. Color Palette •Vastly different Hues •Similar Intensity •Contrast from background •Avoid Red and Green Combo
- 29. Color Palette High Focus Medium Focus Low Focus
- 30. Focus Total Sales Total Profit Region 1 $51,689 $11,689 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 2008 26 52% 100 2009 53 104% 75 2010 96 81.1% Region 2 50 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 25 2008 26 52% 0 2009 53 104% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2010 96 81.1%
- 31. Focus Total Sales Total Profit Region 1 $51,689 $11,689 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 2008 26 52% 100 2009 53 104% 75 2010 96 81.1% Region 2 50 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 25 2008 26 52% 0 2009 53 104% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2010 96 81.1%
- 32. Focus Total Sales Total Profit Region 1 $51,689 $11,689 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 2008 26 52% 100 2009 53 104% 75 2010 96 81.1% Region 2 50 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 25 2008 26 52% 0 2009 53 104% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2010 96 81.1%
- 33. Focus Total Sales Total Profit Region 1 $51,689 $11,689 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 2008 26 52% 100 2009 53 104% 75 2010 96 81.1% Region 2 50 Year Profit Growth 2007 17 20% 25 2008 26 52% 0 2009 53 104% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2010 96 81.1%
- 35. Thanks! Dave Fowler dave@chartio.com We’re hiring! - http://chartio.com/jobs/