What are the best ways to make your charts and graphs more effective?

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Charts and graphs are powerful tools to communicate data and insights in a concise and engaging way. However, poorly designed charts and graphs can confuse, mislead, or bore your audience. Whether you are preparing a presentation, a report, or a dashboard, you need to follow some best practices to make your charts and graphs more effective. In this article, you will learn how to choose the right type of chart, how to optimize the layout and design, how to use colors and labels, how to add context and storytelling, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

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Vaibhav Arora

Director Consulting @ KPMG GCC | Digital Health, GenAI, Pharma
Arpit Apoorva

Startup & Business Consulting | Ex-Deloitte | Insights on Strategy, Leadership & Emerging Tech

1 Choose the right type of chart

The first step to make your charts and graphs more effective is to choose the right type of chart for your data and message. Different types of charts have different purposes and strengths. For example, bar charts are good for comparing categories, line charts are good for showing trends, pie charts are good for showing proportions, and scatter plots are good for showing correlations. You should avoid using inappropriate or misleading types of charts, such as 3D charts, donut charts, or gauges. You should also avoid using too many types of charts in one presentation, as this can create visual clutter and inconsistency.

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Nrupal Akolkar, P. Eng.
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Each chart has a purpose and a reason for use. The choice of how and what to represent is based on the objective of why you are presenting it. When you know the audience, you know the what and why of your action. Choose a chart or graph that aligns with the storyline you are building.

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2 Optimize the layout and design

The second step to make your charts and graphs more effective is to optimize the layout and design. You should follow some basic principles of visual hierarchy, alignment, balance, and white space. You should also remove any unnecessary or distracting elements, such as grid lines, borders, backgrounds, or legends. You should use consistent fonts, sizes, and styles for your text and labels. You should also use appropriate scales, axes, and intervals for your data. You should avoid using too many or too few data points, as this can affect the readability and accuracy of your charts and graphs.

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3 Use colors and labels

The third step to make your charts and graphs more effective is to use colors and labels strategically. Colors can help you highlight key data points, create contrast, show patterns, or convey emotions. However, you should use colors sparingly and consistently. You should avoid using too many or too bright colors, as this can create visual noise and confusion. You should also use colors that are accessible and suitable for your audience and context. Labels can help you provide clarity, explanation, or emphasis for your data and message. However, you should use labels sparingly and succinctly. You should avoid using too many or too long labels, as this can create visual clutter and redundancy.

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Vaibhav Arora

Director Consulting @ KPMG GCC | Digital Health, GenAI, Pharma
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Crammed charts on a single slide often require labels to be clear. It is not a good idea to assume that everyone will see the presentation on the same sized device or in presentation mode, for example. (views are personal)

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4 Add context and storytelling

The fourth step to make your charts and graphs more effective is to add context and storytelling. Context can help you provide background, relevance, or comparison for your data and message. You can use titles, subtitles, captions, annotations, or sources to add context to your charts and graphs. Storytelling can help you create a narrative, a flow, or a takeaway for your data and message. You can use headings, transitions, summaries, or recommendations to create storytelling for your charts and graphs. You should avoid presenting your data without any context or storytelling, as this can make your charts and graphs meaningless or boring.

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Ravi Mathai
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Too much information on a slide can confuse the audience. It’s important that the presenter focuses on what he/she wants to clearly convey to the audience. Having a key takeaway sentence in the bottom of the slide is important to ensure that the audience is clearly able to understand the gist of what one is trying to communicate.

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5 Avoid common pitfalls

When making your charts and graphs more effective, you should be aware of common pitfalls. These include using misleading or inaccurate data, distorted or manipulated scales or axes, inappropriate or inconsistent formats or units, vague or ambiguous terms or labels, incorrect or irrelevant comparisons or references, confusing or conflicting colors or symbols, and too much or too little information or detail. To ensure your charts and graphs are effective, you should double-check your data, sources, calculations, and logic. Additionally, review your charts and graphs for clarity, accuracy, and consistency. Lastly, test them for different devices, platforms, and audiences.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Arpit Apoorva

Startup & Business Consulting | Ex-Deloitte | Insights on Strategy, Leadership & Emerging Tech
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Focus on clarity and simplicity. Choose the right type of chart that aligns with your data and message. Prioritize key information, avoiding unnecessary details. Ensure clear labels, titles, and legends. Use consistent color schemes and consider accessibility for diverse audiences. Minimize clutter and unnecessary embellishments. Incorporate data-driven storytelling by providing context and insights. Regularly review and refine visuals based on feedback and evolving data. By prioritizing clarity and relevance, your charts and graphs become powerful tools for conveying information and supporting decision-making.

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What are the best ways to make your charts and graphs more effective?

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6

1 Choose the right type of chart

2 Optimize the layout and design

3 Use colors and labels

4 Add context and storytelling

5 Avoid common pitfalls

6 Here’s what else to consider

Consulting

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What are the best ways to make your charts and graphs more effective?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Choose the right type of chart

2 Optimize the layout and design

3 Use colors and labels

4 Add context and storytelling

5 Avoid common pitfalls

6 Here’s what else to consider

Consulting

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