Using the same visuals for the same data consistently ensures your users recognize them and are familiar with them. For example, a bar chart is a good choice when emphasizing individual values, while a line chart might be a better choice if you want the reader to focus on trends.Ĭonsistent.
Use charts that are familiar instead of "creative" and use the correct chart type to convey a specific type of information. Your goal should be to show the truth and let readers make their own decisions, instead of railroading them to what you believe is the truth.įamiliar. One of the main risks with data visualization is that tools offer so many customization and design options that too often obscure the truth.
A relatively simple map potentially has thousands of data points on a single page but it still helps you quickly find your way from one town to another.Ĭlean and truthful. When thinking about data density, consider maps. You are striving for data density and you should put enough information on your dashboard to help readers make a decision. Visualizations should provide insight into data that may not be readily visible from raw data and give information about the things readers care about. Here are the key principles you should follow: It should deliver the right information and messages needed by business users to make decisions without obscuring the truth. Key principles of good data visualizationĪ great visualization should follow some key principles to make sure it is understandable and actionable. A quick glance is all it takes to see the biggest gains and losses and the countries that contribute the most to your overall results. Now look at a visual created using this same data.īy including comparisons and variances, we're telling a much more interesting story from the get-go even though we're using the exact same data. If you want insight, you need to study it closely and carefully. When you look at a table with data, it's hard to glean anything meaningful from it. A good visualization can communicate complex data in a simple way and can reveal trends and insights that would otherwise remain hidden in regular tables of numbers. You know how they say a picture's worth a thousand words? It is completely true. We'll finish with some of the best practices when using Excel for data visualization. The guide will also cover International Business Communication Standards (IBCS) that provide firm guidelines on designing your visuals. Next, we'll look at the available tools and what you can do with them, followed by tips for standardizing your visualization for consistent reporting. In this guide, we will look at why data visualization is important and what are the most common mistakes you should avoid. While it's certainly a powerful and flexible tool that can help business professionals understand and communicate data, it too often results in visualizations that are not actionable and fail to tell a coherent and convincing story.
This guide explores the best practices for using Excel for data visualization that has an impact and tells a convincing story.Įxcel has been a mainstay of business visualization in companies large and small for decades.
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