7 Best Data Visualization Tips To Inspire You
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the different types of data visualization out there. But, if you know what kind of information you need to communicate and which tools will work best for your brand and audience, it gets a lot easier.
With the right balance between imagination and technical execution, anyone can create an engaging data visualization. The tips below will assist you in creating an appealing visualization that will leave your audience with clear, actionable insights.
1. Pick the Perfect Charts and Graphs
It’s important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” solution for data visualization. Instead, you should think carefully about your goal and select a design that best conveys the story and answers crucial queries the data raises.
In some cases, it’s even helpful to combine related graphics, as doing so can ignite further inquiry and provide answers that produce actionable business insights.
Suppose you are looking for the best alternative. In that case, a waterfall chart is a great tool to quickly get the big picture and understand how things are going with your business, whether you’re trying to analyze your earnings, inventory, or sales.
A waterfall chart explains the overall value shift between two points. The chart breaks down the total change into its constituent parts rather than representing it by an initial and ultimate value. In addition, it’s easy to calculate the return on investment and changes in stock prices with the chart.
2. Convey Engaging Stories With Clear Color Cues
Color allows you to communicate even without any utterances at all. Nevertheless, utilizing color requires a tricky balance. You want to use color to emphasize and draw attention to the visualization.
It will look chaotic if you utilize too many colors. Also, avoid using one color, as the information will become challenging to distinguish.
Using easily recognizable colors will speed up your audience’s understanding of the information you’re presenting. When dealing with temperatures, utilize red to denote high temperatures and blue for low ones.
In addition, always use vibrant hues when presenting positive numbers. For example, if you want to show growth over time, use more clear hues such as green and orange rather than gray tones that might make viewers lose interest.
Remember, the way you utilize color has a significant impact. It’s beneficial for demonstrating uniformity in values or drawing attention to differences in the information.
If you have established a brand identity based on specific colors, consider how this will impact the way people perceive your work.
3. Utilize Consistent Patterns for Layouts
Humans naturally favor visual information. People love layouts that provide crucial information in a single quick look. If the visualization’s patterns are unpredictable or make no sense, it will be hard for them to grasp the message.
If you want to take advantage of these inclinations, it is essential to visualize data in a logical order, whether numerically, alphabetically, or sequentially. For instance, consider setting up your representation similarly if you’re using left-to-right reading language.
If you’re using more than one graph, ensure the order remains the same and the links between the graphs are understandable. You want your audience to be able to move smoothly from one idea to the next without becoming lost.
4. Utilize Text Thoughtfully
Your selection of text can help to enhance the representation you create. Text can be disruptive if you don’t structure it in a visually pleasing manner, but graphics alone aren’t always enough.
If you must use text, ensure it emphasizes the most vital details. Even though human brains work by digesting visuals and patterns more quickly than words, using text where it truly matters can make a big difference.
5. Employ Size Properly To Display Data
You may use size to draw attention to crucial details and give hints about the context. Size might also indicate relative values. Rather than using color to represent data, form size can change dynamically. Maps also benefit from the use of size to show values.
Multiple data sets of the same size on a graph tend to mix, making it harder to identify the values they represent. You may simplify the display by keeping size proportional to value and incorporating color as a second indicator.
6. Choose the Right Sources
The data you use should be complete and factual. For instance, you can use the Federal Reserve Economic Database if your story is about money and banking. Other credible data sources include:
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Open Data Network
- Unicef
- America’s Health Ranking
7. Don’t Add Too Much Information
You want to ensure that your audience can absorb all the data they’re seeing, which means keeping it as simple as possible. Don’t overcomplicate the data by adding too many data types. Try not to use more than one chart for each variable. That way, people can read through quickly and understand what’s happening.
The distinction between an incomprehensible representation and a stellar analysis often comes down to the level of engagement. Ensure the audience knows how to connect with the story and any interactive elements you add by subtly guiding them through the process.
Position the most crucial information high up in the top left corner. It would also be better to keep your representations to no more than three or four views, as overcrowding obscures the main idea. If you have more than one filter, try to group them into sets.
Final Thoughts
Visualizations may tell a compelling narrative if done effectively. Additionally, they can shed light on data and characteristics that standard graphs might not reveal. There’re plenty of data visualization tools like waterfall chart data, and it’s crucial to find the one that works best for you and your business.
While the tips above can help you get started on creating better visualizations and infographics, the most important thing is that you keep experimenting and pushing yourself forward. The more practice you get with this skill set, the better you’ll become at it.
