Best Practices for Data Visualizations

KICK ASS INFOGRAPHICS!Some suggestions that can help you build compelling,accurate, and beautiful visualizations.

Web Infographic Cliches by Alberto Antoniazzi As Metallica says, “Sad but true.” What are some things to keep in mind as you create your awesome visualization or infographic?http://www.fastcompany.com/1783203/infographic-of-the-day-the-biggest-cliches-of-web-infographics

DESIGN FOLLOWS DATAThe data you have drives the visualization you can make.Think about what each visualization can do and doesbest. Think outside the pie chart! Start your reading here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChartDon’t overdo it! Insights should be brought forward bydesign, not buried. Sometimes, making it look pretty isthe wrong thing to do.Personal pet peeve: super-texty layouts.

The Open Data Movement by Visual.ly http://visual.ly/open-data-movement

VISUALIZE IT!This may sound obvious, but if you have numbers, find away to visualize them.I’ve seen many, many designs that are chock full ofnumbers all over the layout, without any visualizations totie them together, make them relatable, or provide insight.Pull out numbers to provide story points or visual punch.

Unemployment & Cost of Kids by EJ Fox

Airbnb Then & Now by Kelli Andersonhttp://dl.dropbox.com/u/2374038/Airbnb_1M_Nights_Booked.jpg

DON’T LIEIf you have more than one data source, be clear about it.Avoid comparisons between sets that use differentmethodologies.Form and color matters! A lot! It’s very easy to “lie” insubtle ways without realizing it. Read this:http://www.interaction-design.org/encyclopedia/data_visualization_for_human_perception.htmlCan you still make sense of it if you’re color blind? Greenand red are loaded colors for many reasons. Make surethere’s dark/light contrast.

Pie Chart Example from interaction-design.orgIt looks rad, but this chart is lying to you. How? By mapping data to severaldimensions at once it becomes difficult for us to make accuratecomparisons. The 3D effect adds to this problem, making foregroundelements more prominent. Something as simple as a pie chart can be subtlymisleading. http://www.interaction-design.org/encyclopedia/data_visualization_for_human_perception.html

MAKE IT RELATECan you relate your data points over a timeline?Can you offer comparisons between groups?Choose a visualization method that allows you to do this.

New York vs. the World published by last.fm http://visual.ly/new-york-vs-world

ATTRIBUTECite your sources. Make it transparent and discoverable(if possible). Be aware of the timeliness of your data.

The Opportunity Gap by Hyperakt http://visual.ly/opportunity-gap

TELL A STORYThink about how you order insights and story points,especially in interactive, video, and tall scrollingvisualizations.Think of hook, line, and sinker.

Saving Our Schools by Hyperakt http://visual.ly/throwing-money-problem

APPEALThis is a very broad concept - I ask myself the followingquestions:Is the story I’m telling worthwhile?Can I provide insights that emerge through visualization?Is the design polished, coherent, and easy on the eyes?Do I want to put it on my wall (or share it with myfriends)?

The World of Beer by Pop Chart Lab http://visual.ly/world-beer

Seeing is believing.

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Best Practices for Data Visualizations

by visually on Oct 03, 2011

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