Data
CLIENT LOGO
Visualization
Introduction
What is data visualization?
Why is it so important?
information that has been abstracted
in some schematic form, including
attributes or variables for the units of
information
Data visualization principles
Data visualization principles
Beyond charts
1. Let the data speak for itself
1. Avoid content free decoration
2. Simplify the information
2. Use visuals to engage, not distract
3. Write for the audience and situation
Integrating visualizations into presentations
Graphical representation of data
1. Have a story to tell
1. Let the data dictate the chart type
2. Have one clear message per page
2. Make it Simple
3. Make your writing MECE
3. Eliminate chart junk
4. Eliminate repetition
5. Maximize the data to ink ratio
6. Never use pie charts
DATA VISUALIZATION PRINCIPLES
Data visualization principles
1. Let the data speak for itself
Thousands
Non-Employee Followers
Avg. added per month
14
+8%
13.1
13
12.1
12
11
10
8
0
Sep 2013 - Mar 2014
Source: Linkedin
Mar 2014 - Dec 2014
Data visualization principles
2. Simplify the information
Data visualization principles
3. Write for the audience and situation
Situation
Variables
Audience seniority
Paper slides or onscreen
Simplicity / complexity
Reading or live presenting
Length of presentation / depth of detail
In person or on screen
Color palette
Unfamiliar or familiar audience
Use of photos / visuals
Use of text, text size and density
Unfamiliar or familiar topic
Size of audience
Time available
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF DATA
Graphical representation of data
1. Let the data dictate the chart type
Nothing more frustrating than having a cool chart that doesnt tell us anything.
Chart types for making Comparisons
Graphical representation of data
2. Make it Simple
Simple can be harder than
complex: You have to work hard
to get your thinking clean to
make it simple. But its worth it in
the end because once you get
there, you can move
mountains.
Steve Jobs
Graphical representation of data
3. Eliminate chartjunk
Graphical representation of data
4. Maximise the data to ink ratio
KEEP IT MINIMALIST.
THX
Graphical representation of data
5. Never use pie charts
Graphical representation of data
5. except in very limited circumstances
Im on my way.
Still at home
I'm actually on my way
<15 mins
15-30
mins
>30 mins
Minutes away from
destination
BEYOND CHARTS AND GRAPHS
Beyond charts & graphs
1. Avoid content free decoration
Simple graphics tell better stories.
Beyond charts & graphs
2. Its not always about graphs
Graph: Growth of white pine seedlings and the amount of calcium
added in the soil
Health Care Cost in the US vs. Europe
PRESENTING DATA VISUALIZATIONS
Presenting data visualizations
1. Have a story to tell
Source: Dark Horse Analytics
Presenting data visualizations
2. Have one clear message per page
The biggest text on the page
delivers no value or insight and
is purely descriptive
Final client version still has
DRAFT label on it
Multiple data points buried in
the text, not displayed visually
Three different messages
across four different channels
Presenting data visualizations
3. Make your writing MECE
Snack costs
$ per snack
In January, Will spent on average
$4.30 on coffee, $2.40 on Bagels
and $2.00 on donuts
$6.00
$5.00
$4.00
Coffee
$3.00
Bagel
Donut
$2.00
$1.00
In February, Will spent on average
$2.50 on coffee, $4.40 on Bagels
and $2.00 on donuts
In March, Will spent on average
$3.50 on coffee, $1.80 on Bagels
and $3.00 on donuts
In April, Will spent on average
$4.50 on coffee, $2.80 on Bagels
and $5.00 on donuts
$0.00
Jan-14
Feb-14
Mar-14
Apr-14
Presenting data visualizations
3. Make your language simple
1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are
used to seeing in print
2.
3.
4.
It
is
easier
even
quicker,
once
Never use a long word where a short one will do
you have the habit to say In my
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out
opinion it is not an unjustifiable
Never use theassumption
passive wherethat
you can
use
the
active
than to say I think
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can
George Orwell
think of an everyday English equivalent
Politics and the English Language
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous
APPENDIX
Toolkit
Edward Tufte: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information,
Barbara Minto: The Pyramid Principle
Dark Horse Analytics: [Link]
[Link]: [Link]
Data visualization tools: [Link]
George Orwell: Politics and the English Language
ThinkCell: [Link]
Aploris: [Link]