Communicating Data in a Visual Way
by Ciprian Rusen
corporategeek.info

At work we handle lots of data

Analysis Peers
Reports Top Management
for
Surveys Clients

But many of us are
bad at
communicating data

People do not listen
or understand us

How to visually communicate data?

Understand your GOAL
Choose the best TOOL
HIGHLIGHT your point
Keep it SIMPLE

Understand your GOAL!

What is my point?
Why does it matter?
What data proves my point?

What is my point?
Show how to communicate data in a visual way.
Why does it matter?
It can help all of us communicate better.
What data proves my point?
The results of the Romanian Elections from 2000 to
2004.

Choose the best TOOL!

Use Chart Advisor!

Use Bar Charts to represent:
Independent elements
Compare values

President Elections 2004
1st tour
Gheorghe Dinu 0.11
Petre Roman 0.14
George Becali 0.02
Coriolan Ciuhandu 0.20
Marko Bela 0.53
Corneliu Vadim Tudor 0.53
Traian Basescu 3.55
Adrian Nastase 4.28
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
Votes(Million)

Use Pie Charts to represent:
Parts of a whole
Differences in proportion

President Elections 2004
2nd tour
Adrian Nastase
48.80%
Traian Basescu
51.20%

Use Line Graphs to represent:
Specific values
Trends & Evolution

Vote Presence (2000-2004)
68%
66%
65.30%
64%
62%
Presence (%)
60%
58.93%
58%
57.50%
56%
55.20%
54%
52%
50%
1st Tour (2000) 2nd Tour (2000) 1st Tour (2004) 2nd Tour (2004)

HIGHLIGHT your point!

message
Emphasis on the key

6
5
4
Use Backgrounds to provide Series 1
3
Series 2
Context and Scale Series 3
2
1
0
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

Use Neutral Backgrounds
and Fonts!

President Elections 2004
1st tour
Gheorghe Dinu 0.11
Petre Roman 0.14
George Becali 0.02
Coriolan Ciuhandu 0.20
Marko Bela 0.53
Corneliu Vadim Tudor 0.53
Traian Basescu 3.55
Adrian Nastase 4.28
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
Votes(Million)

Keep it SIMPLE!

No Visual Distractions!

• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!
• Limit the amount of text!

NO 3D representation of 2D data

Use Empty Space!

Have Backup Information!

President Elections
2004 - 1st Tour
Gheorghe Dinu
Petre Roman
George Becali
Coriolan Ciuhandu
Marko Bela
Corneliu Vadim Tudor
Traian Basescu
Adrian Nastase
0 1 2 3 4 5
Votes(Million)

Can we visually communicate data?

YES!

Understand your GOAL
Choose the best TOOL
HIGHLIGHT your point
Keep it SIMPLE

Reading Recommendations
“presentation zen” by Garr Reynolds
“slide:ology” by Nancy Duarte
Additional Information
Wikipedia
Microsoft Office Labs
Stock Photos taken from:
Office Online Library
Crestock.com

Created by…