SDWP In-House Data Visualization Guide Updated February 2016
Dos and Don ts of Visualizing Data
DO DON T Flat Series 1 Series 2 Series Series 1 Series 2 Series 4. 2.4 4.4 2. 2 2. 1.8 4. 2.8 4. 4. 2. 2 1. 4. 2. 2 2. 4. 1 0. Category 1 Category 2 Category Category 4 0 Category 1 Category 2 Category Category 4
DO Flat DON T Confusing Infographics Series 1 Series 2 Series 4. 4.4 4.. 2.4 2. 2.8 2 2 1.8 Category 1 Category 2 Category Category 4
DO DON T Flat Series 1.4 Series 4 1.2 Series, 1.4 Series 4, 1.2 Series 2.2 Series 1 8.2 Series 2,.2 Series 1, 8.2
DO DON T Clean Lines 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 0% 40% 0% 20% 10% 0% Series 1 Series 2 Series Category 1 Category 2 Category Category 4 Series 1 Series 2 Series 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 0% 40% 0% 20% 10% 0% Category 1 Category 2 Category Category 4
Proper Data Visualization
General Rules If still readable, remove y-axis on column charts, x-axis on bar charts Use consistent font throughout (see Font slide below) Vary shades of series colors (if printed in back & white, can still tell the difference) Avoid neon/bright colors Use color to convey information, not for decoration Put numbers in context Do the math decide either percentages or absolute values, whichever gives the best representation of the data Use as few graphical elements as possible to keep visuals clean and crisp
Column Chart Solid colors, unless showing future projections Future projections should use a striped pattern and have an outline around the bar Small gap (-1%) between series bars in each category (series overlap) 4. Series 1 Series 2 Series 4.4 4. 7% gap width between categories Legend on top of chart Data labels included 2.4 2. 2 2. 1.8 2.8 No lines going through data in the background Category 1 Category 2 Category Category 4
Bar Chart Solid colors, unless showing future projections Future projections should use a striped pattern and have an outline around the bar 7% gap width between categories Series 1 Series 2 Series Legend on top of chart Category 4 4. 2.8 Data labels included No lines going through data in the background Category 2 2. 4.4 2 Data should be in order of largest on top to smallest on bottom This is not true when showing data by time (years) or by something that should be listed alphabetically (states) or in a specific, logical order Good for using with stacked data Category 1 Category 4. 2.4 2. 1.8 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Line Chart Don t put all of the data labels when doing a line chart if more than 4 categories Label beginning, end, high and low if more than four categories are used Legend to the right of each corresponding line If more than four series, don t use a line chart! With 4 or more data series, an array of individual charts can display a patter and allows for better comparison Make color of label match color of line Lines should be solid unless showing future projections (then dash) 6 4 2 1 0 Series 1 4. 4.4 Series 2 4.. 2.8 2.4 2. Series 2 2 1.8 Category 1 Category 2 Category Category 4
100 percent Bar Chart Use when comparing data across time (instead of pie charts) Solid colors, unless showing future projections Series 1 Series 2 Series Future projections should use a striped pattern and have an outline around the bar 7% gap width between categories Category 4 4. 2.8 Legend on top of chart Data labels included Category. 1.8 No lines going through data in the background Data should be in order of largest of first category or last category on top to smallest on bottom This is not true is showing data by time (years) or by something that should be listed alphabetically (states) Category 2 2. 4.4 2 Category 1 4. 2.4 2 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Donut Chart Solid colors, unless showing future projections Data labels included outside the chart (not inside) Data labels should include the category name and on a new line, the data point. When showing data that is by discrete categories (e.g., types of donuts), use multicolored color schemes Include a white, thin outline of each of the donut slices Use sparingly Use space in the middle for additional information (e.g., year) Series 2.2 Series 1.4 Series 4 1.2 201 Series 1 8.2
Pie Chart Use sparingly (avoid if possible doesn t represent the data well) Solid colors, unless showing future projections No lines going through data in the background When showing data that is continuous (e.g., age), use monochromatic color schemes Include a white, thin outline of each of the pie slices Largest data point should start at the 12 o clock position and go to the right Don t compare pie charts (see 100% bar chart below) Have no more than categories Data labels included outside the chart (not inside) Data labels should include the category name and on a new line, the data point. Series 2.2 Series 1.4 Series 4 1.2 Series 1 8.2
Tables Lines separating rows are ¼ thick No vertical lines separating columns If more than - columns, can add a thin vertical line to help with reading the numbers across, but are not necessary Title font can be slightly different than data font, but use the same font for all data (see Fonts slide) Align whole numbers to the right; always align decimal numbers on the decimal point (add.0 for whole numbers) Month (name) Month (number) Days Other Info January 1 1.1 February 2 29 6.0 April 4 0 9. July 7 1 10. September 9 0 11.0 November 11 0 17.6
Other Charts: Don t Do It! Surface Chart Radar Chart 0-1 1-2 2- -4 4- Series 1 Series 2 40 1//02 0 4 1/9/02 20 10 1/6/02 2 1 Series 0 0 Series 2 Category 1 Category 2 Category Series 1 Category 4 1/8/02 1/7/02
Other Charts: Don t Do It! Stock Chart Bubble Chart 70 9 60 8 0 7 40 0 6 4 20 10 2 0 1//02 1/6/02 1/7/02 1/8/02 1/9/02 Open High Low Close 1 0 0 0. 1 1. 2
Styles Color, Font & General PPT Guidelines
Guidelines for PPT usage and data visualization Do White background Consistent font (use Master Slide editor) Font size, type and color should be the same throughout Use either bold, italics or underline but not a combination of 2 or Don t Dark/colored background Rainbow colors Picture in the background It s okay (and encouraged) to have white space 16x9 vs. 4x