What's your secret to presenting data clearly and visually?

1 Know your audience

The first secret to presenting data clearly and visually is to know your audience. Who are they, what do they care about, and what do they need to know? Depending on your audience, you may need to adjust the level of detail, the tone, the format, and the key messages of your data presentation. For example, if you're presenting to senior executives, you may want to focus on the big picture, use simple charts, and highlight the main takeaways. If you're presenting to technical experts, you may want to dive into the details, use complex graphs, and explain the methodology.

2 Choose the right chart

The second secret to presenting data clearly and visually is to choose the right chart for your data. Different charts have different purposes and strengths, so you need to match them with your data type, your analysis, and your message. For example, if you want to compare values across categories, you may use a bar chart or a pie chart. If you want to show trends over time, you may use a line chart or an area chart. If you want to show relationships between variables, you may use a scatter plot or a bubble chart.

3 Use colors and labels wisely

The third secret to presenting data clearly and visually is to use colors and labels wisely. Colors and labels can help you highlight important information, create contrast, and convey meaning. However, they can also distract, confuse, and mislead your audience if used poorly. For example, you should avoid using too many colors, using colors that are hard to see or distinguish, or using colors that imply a value judgment. You should also avoid using too many labels, using labels that are too small or too long, or using labels that are unclear or inconsistent.

4 Tell a story

The fourth secret to presenting data clearly and visually is to tell a story. Data alone is not enough to engage your audience, you must weave it into a narrative that explains its meaning, why it matters, and what actions should be taken. A successful data story should have a clear structure, an engaging hook, a flowing logic, and a strong conclusion. As an example, you can use the following template to construct your data story: begin by introducing a question or problem that your audience cares about; next, demonstrate how you collected and analyzed the data to answer the question or solve the problem; then reveal the key findings and insights from the data; afterwards recommend the next steps or solutions based on the data; and finally, finish with a call to action or takeaway for your audience.

5 Simplify and focus

Simplifying and focusing your data is the fifth secret to presenting it clearly and visually. Data can be complex, so it's important to reduce the noise and emphasize the signal. To do this, you should remove unnecessary elements such as gridlines, borders, backgrounds, or legends. Ensure that scales, axes, and units are consistent and appropriate. Highlight the most important data points such as outliers, trends, or benchmarks. Use titles, captions, annotations, or icons to explain or emphasize key information. Additionally, use white space, alignment, and hierarchy to create a clear and balanced layout.

6 Test and refine

The sixth and final secret to presenting data clearly and visually is to test and refine. It's important to continuously improve your data presentation by asking yourself or your audience questions such as: is the data presentation clear and accurate? Is it relevant and useful? Is it engaging and persuasive? Is it actionable and impactful? Through this process, you can ensure that your data presentation meets your objectives and expectations.

7 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?