Read time: 5 minutes
This week’s tip: Simplify your charts to amplify stories and outcomes.
I’ve been refining data visualization techniques for almost 20 years, and no matter the complexity of the data, these three techniques ensure clear and effective charts every time.
Let me show you how, step by step.
Step 1: Select the Right Chart
Every chart type serves a specific purpose. Choosing the wrong one can make even the best data seem meaningless. For example, using a pie chart to display trends over time is a recipe for confusion.
Instead, align your chart type with the question you’re answering:
- Want to show trends over time? Use a line graph.
- Need to compare categories? A bar chart works best.
- Showing proportions of a whole? Try a stacked bar or tree map (but keep them simple).
Let's look at an example:
The goal was to highlight the top-performing regions. A bar chart was the obvious choice because it allows for easy comparison across categories.
Key Takeaway: Always start by asking yourself: What question am I trying to answer? Then, choose the chart type that best fits the purpose.
Step 2: Simplify the Design
With the chart type selected, the next step is to declutter. The original bar chart we worked with was overloaded with distracting gridlines, axis, and unnecessary background textures.
How to simplify:
- Remove gridlines and background textures.
- Remove the X axis and add data labels.
- Increase the bar size (data ink).
Key Takeaway: Remove anything that doesn’t add value to your story. Simplicity is clarity.
Step 3: Signal the Key Insight
Finally, focus your audience’s attention on the most important takeaway. This is where you ensure your chart doesn’t just show data—it tells a story.
How we signaled the insight:
- Highlighted the top three regions with bold blue bars.
- Deemphasized the bottom five regions with gray bars.
- Sorted the bars highest to lowest.
- Made the title a legend (using blue) to connect it to the chart.
The final chart communicates the answer to the audience’s question instantly and effectively.
Key Takeaway: Use color, size, sorting, and titles strategically to guide your audience’s attention to what matters most.
Applying the Process to Other Charts
This three-step process works for any chart. Let’s look at two more examples:
#1 Line Chart: Before
#1 Line Chart: After
#2 Scatter Plot: Before
#2 Scatter Plot: After
Challenge
This week, take a messy chart from your past reports, dashboards, presentations, or spreadsheets. Apply the three step process redesign it. Focus on turning confusion into clarity.
Takeaway
The right chart, designed the right way, transforms data into clear, actionable insights. This process will change the way you deliver data.
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