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How to Choose a Visualization

Chart Clutter

Busy Graph

Busy Graph

clean chart

Data Focused Graph

Make sure the focus of your visualization is the part that represents the data. There is a lot of debate on "chart clutter" as it can distract from the data, but helps the viewer remember and stay interested. A good rule of thumb is just to make sure that the data portion is the primary focus.

Labels

chart with bad labeling

Hard to Read Labeling

chart with good labeling

Easy to Read Labeling

Labeling on Your visualization should be easy to read.

  1. Font: Choose an easy-to-read font size and font. Generally avoid cursive.
  2. Legend: If you're using colour or shapes to represent a variable, either label the graph directly or include a legend
  3. Title: Include a to the point, but descriptive title

Start the Axis labels at 0

graph with y axis that does not start at 0

Y-axis Does Not Start at 0

y-axis starts at 0

Y-axis Starts at 0

Starting a numerical axis above 0 can distort the representation of the data. In the example above, the first chart makes it look like the "Other Team" has half as much value as "Our Team". The Chart with the axis starting at 0 illustrated that that is not the case at all. Sometimes you need to start the axis above 0 due to the scale of the data. In this case, make it clear with labeling/ text that it does not start with 0.

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