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Quick Tips English 22 May 2012

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70 views4 pages

Quick Tips English 22 May 2012

sddfljakshdfkas hdfasdhfas f as df afhardrg dfsgasdfbsa dkfjhasñdlfhÑODFHA{Dpfhasdoñfasdgfi us gñaeGF IASDZGF ASGFIAHS FÓAHGSDFUGAG ASD GHD FG DSFHGA LKSK GFOÑASDHFA{´SHFASUDGASASG. A GS F DS F ASDFGASBKDLFA

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10 Data Visualization Tips

Data visualizations are an effective tool to

Pie Charts

communicate research. But to realize their


potential, designers should follow these tips
to help readers decode their visualizations.

1. Keep it simple!
This is the golden rule. Always choose the
simplest way to convey your information.

2. Have a specific message you want to


communicate
Identify the relationships and patterns of your

3. Select the right chart form

Depict slices of a whole. There should not be


more than five slices, and their total value
should equal 100%. The largest slice should start
at the top and fall to the right.

and know its strengths and limits. Here are

Scatter Plots

data and focus on what you want to show.

some common chart forms:


Bar charts

Depict nominal data. They are often used to


illustrate comparisons. The value axis should
always start at zero and use a consistent scale.

Depict relationships between two variables.


They are effective with large datasets and to
highlight patterns or correlations. Danger: the
reader may assume a cause-and-effect
relationship between the X and Y axes even
when there isnt one.

Node-Link
Node-link Diagrams

Word Clouds

Depict the hierarchical ordering or structure

Depict the frequency of words within a

of data. This diagram is most effective when

document. If tailored by colour, size, or font,

the parent node is located at the top with the

word clouds can add emphasis to specific

others following below.

findings.

Line graphs

Hot Tip: To find out more about choosing the


right chart type for your data, go to:
www.juiceanalytics.com/chart-chooser

4. Use compelling headlines and decks to


describe the take-away message of the
visualization.

Depict patterns over a continuous range. They


do not have to start at zero, but the data
ranges should be clearly marked and the
overall chart shape should retain a 5:8 height
and width ratio.

A) Include a compelling headline to orient


the viewer and communicate the main

6. Avoid using special effects, such as 3D


graphics.

focus of the visualization. Do not


capitalize all letters or make them bold.
B) Label the axes. Labels should always be
printed horizontally to make them easier
to read.
C) Use decks to describe what is depicted
and to avoid any potential
misinterpretation.
D) Provide source information to establish
credibility.

5. Maximize the data-ink ratio (Edward


Tufte)

The perspective added in 3D graphics distorts


the data and makes it difficult to interpret
accurately.

7. Add hierarchy to your data


Avoid cherry-picking data, but do not treat all
data equally. Data should have an order of
importance. This hierarchy can be
communicated through the use of design choices
(as indicated in tip 8).

8. Use colour, size, and position to help


the reader see what is important.
Colour adds emphasis, highlights particular data
Show the data above everything else.

points, and draws connections between graphs.

Eliminate all extra ink that does not show the

The hue, value, and intensity of the colour are

data. Exclude redundant information,

significant and may have cultural or social

including background colour, borders, and

connotations.

grids.

Size and position draw attention to particular


data points and show hierarchy. The top of
charts and larger objects tend to draw the eye
first. Cultural reading conventions also
determine how people read charts.

10. Revise and edit.


The more you design, the more you learn. It is
important to give yourself time to design and to
revise and edit, over and over again.
Hot tip: Visit these useful data visualization
websites and blogs
datavisualization.ch
flowingdata.com
informationisbeautiful.net
visualcomplexity.com
Hot tip: Data visualization tools you should

Colour contrast can attract the eye and draw

know about

attention to particular data points.


Place the largest slices in a pie chart at the top
because the eye is naturally drawn there first.
Hot tip: Visit these websites for help with
colour schemes
http://design-seeds.com for colour scheme
inspiration
http://kuler.adobe.com for colour
inspiration
http://instant-eyedropper.com for free
software to identify colour codes on
websites

9. Find the models you like and use


them in your designs, or adapt them
to fit your needs.

Tableau Public
tableausoftware.com/public
Many Eyes
958.ibm.com
Ushahidi
ushahidi.com
Protovis
mbostock.github.com/protovis
Polymaps
polymaps.org

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