tips to create usefultips to create useful and beautiful … · 2018. 9. 28. · tips to create...
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Tips to Create UsefulTips to Create Useful and Beautiful Visualizations
Tell a story!1 yProfitablevs.UnprofitableIPOs
IPO Decade: Every viz should tell a
12000s1990s1980s
Day Since IPO:0 800
150%
O*
110%153%
ystory. As you create your visualization, make sure to continually ask, “What story does this tell?”0 to 800
100%
rage
Ret
urn
Sinc
e IP
O
86%
89% Profitable at IPONot profitable
Profitable
story does this tell?
This viz shows us that companies that IPO’d
50%Ave
39%36%
after reaching profitability were far more successful in the long run
0 255 510 765
Trading Days Since IPO
0%Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
long run.
Orient text horizontally2 y
IL OH
Unfunded Pension Liability by State
2
600K
800K
200K
400K
0K
Sometimes the small changes make all the difference in understanding
Avoid pies! Except on maps…3 p p p
Age Group
Can you tell which slice is largest? RegionEast
Graffiti by Precinct and Resolution
3g p
0-15 16-24 25-40 41-64 65+South
West
Age Group
0-15 16-24 25-40 41-64 65+50%
This is the same information represented as bars. Comparisons are much easier.
20%
30%
40%
rcen
t of T
otal
Use
rs
0%
10%
Per
Bar charts beat pies every time! The human eye can compare height
But… pies can be effective on maps.The same comparison problem existsThe human eye can compare height
much easier than area.The same comparison problem exists, but pies allow analysis in small spaces.
Use multiple views4 p---0 ---1 ---2 ---3 ---4 ---5 ---6 ---7 ---8 ---9
10%
12%
Unemployment by Decade and Year Highlight Decade:1940's
1950's
1960's
4
4%
6%
8%
10% 1970's
1980's
1990's
2000's
0%
2%
12% September 1983January 2009
Month over Month
4%
6%
8%
10%
Average= 5.6%
py
Source: Bureau of L..-1,000K -500K 0K 500K 1,000KChange in Employment from Prior Month
0%
2%
Average= 116K
Use two coordinated views to show depth, rather than trying to place everything into one view.
Bullets beat Gauges5 g5
>
Besides being difficult to read, gauges take up tons of space. Use bullets charts!
Increase effectiveness with color66
The human eye can detect subtle differences in color much faster than it can read subtle diff i i l !differences in text. Using color saves on space too!
But not too many colors at once7 yDistrict of Columbia Crimespotting
OFFENSEHOMICIDE
7HOMICIDE
ADW
ROBBERY
SEX ABUSE
ARSON
BURGLARYBURGLARY
STOLEN AUTO
THEFT
THEFT F/AUTO
About Tableau maps: www.tableausoftware.com/mapdata
Using more than 10 colors can cause them to blend together and confuse.This view is only using 8 colors but it is still difficult to differentiate the greensThis view is only using 8 colors, but it is still difficult to differentiate the greens.
Labels make it clear88
Pro
fit
2007
2008
2009
2010
Labels are wonderful for calling out key data points and actions
Make it interactive!99
Enable filters highlighting and clicking for more detail toEnable filters, highlighting and clicking for more detail to supercharge the usefulness of your visualization
No ornamentation necessary10 y10
This viz shows the National Activity Index. Not exactly exciting stuff. Yet, this simple visualization tells a story and does it without ornamentation or added presentation layersvisualization tells a story and does it without ornamentation or added presentation layers.
Let the data tell the story!