In my prior post, I sketched a few options for a performing arts organization’s fictional ticket sales data: I intentionally separated the year-by-year bars from the total bar with a little extra space. I don’t want all the bars mushed together. Easy to sketch…
I’m back from a brief blogging break! I’ve spent the past few months speaking and designing – mainly designing. The reports and slideshows I’ve consulted on are starting to be published and it’s been so rewarding to watch organizations’ drafts transform into well-articulated masterpieces. A…
Viewer considerations are key: What type of information do your viewers need to see? What information do they already have? What information are they expecting? How many points in time should be included? Will you present aggregated or disaggregated findings? How long do you anticipate…
Adding color to graphs is simultaneously the easiest and absolute hardest technique to nail. Color is about much, much more than simply making your graphs look pretty. When used well, color can enhance branding, guide viewers’ eyes to the most important pieces of the graph,…
I teach about data visualization a lot. And it basically comes down to two techniques: simplification and emphasis. Here’s a default graph with fictional data: First, simplify the graph. Remove the border. Remove the horizontal grid lines. Remove the vertical axis. Remove the legend. Remove…