Best Practices for Using Charts and Graphs

I used to think colorful charts helped display information. Now I know they do exactly the opposite. When it comes to data visualization, color *is* crucial. But not in the way you’ve likely been taught. The general rule of thumb is that you should use color sparingly and strategically. In other words, never use color for the sake of being color*ful*. Here’s how: First, identify your core colors (I recommend 1-2 max): Option 1 ↳ Use your company’s (or client’s) brand colors. This is often the easiest and best choice. (But remember, you don’t have to use *all* the brand colors.) Option 2 ↳ Use an online color palette (check out the resources linked in the comments to get started). I’ve also searched Pinterest for things like “blue and green color palettes.” Second, follow best practices: Use grey as your default.  ↳ Create all your charts in greyscale first. Then, incorporate color to draw your audience’s eyes to the most important takeaways or data points. Use 1-2 core colors throughout your presentation.  ↳ Use your core colors to highlight the specific trends, categories, or insights you want your audience to pay attention to. Be aware of cultural associations.  ↳ Color symbolism varies across the globe - for example, red often carries a negative connotation in Western cultures, but represents luck and prosperity in Eastern/Asian cultures. Be mindful of color blindness.  ↳ Approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women are colorblind (red-green being the most common). In general, less is more. Imagine someone were to look at your chart and say “Why is THAT particular bar blue? Why is THAT one green?” If you can’t give a clear answer, it's time to go back to the drawing board. —-— 👋🏼 I’m Morgan. I share my favorite data viz and data storytelling tips to help other analysts (and academics) better communicate their work.

Choosing the right chart is half the battle in 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. This one visual helped me go from “𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐈 𝐮𝐬𝐞?” → “𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 10 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬.”👇 The right chart makes insights stick. The wrong one? Confusion. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭 – which chart to use, when, and why: 𝟏. 𝐁𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 – Compare values across categories • When: Sales by region, product performance • Why: Our brains process length differences instantly 𝟐. 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 – Show trends over time • When: Revenue growth, user adoption curves • Why: Makes patterns and changes obvious 𝟑. 𝐏𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 – Display parts of a whole • When: Market share, budget allocation • Why: Works when you have 5 or fewer segments 𝟒. 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 – Find relationships between variables • When: Price vs. demand, experience vs. salary • Why: Reveals correlations and outliers 𝟓. 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 – Show frequency distribution • When: Customer age ranges, response times • Why: Spots normal vs. skewed distributions 𝟔. 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 – Compare multi-dimensional data • When: Employee skills assessment, product features • Why: Shows strengths and gaps at a glance 𝟕. 𝐌𝐚𝐩 – Visualize geographic data • When: Sales by state, store locations • Why: Location patterns jump out immediately 𝟖. 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐩 – Highlight intensity patterns • When: Website clicks, correlation matrices • Why: Color gradients reveal hot spots 𝟗. 𝐁𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 – Display three variables • When: Market cap vs. growth vs. profit margin • Why: Adds a third dimension through size 𝟏𝟎. 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 – Modern take on pie charts • When: KPI progress, category breakdown • Why: Center space for key metrics 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐩: Match your chart to your audience's decision. Executives need trends? Line chart. Team needs to compare options? Bar chart. The right visualization = clearer insights, faster decisions, stronger impact. ♻️ Save this guide for your next presentation! 𝐏.𝐒. I share job search tips and insights on data analytics & data science in my free newsletter. Join 16,000+ readers here → https://lnkd.in/dUfe4Ac6

8 out of 10 analysts struggle with delivering impactful data visualizations. Here are five tips that I learned through my experience that can improve your visuals immensely: 1. Know Your Stakeholder's Requirements: Before diving into charts and graphs, understand who you're speaking to. Tailor your visuals to match their expertise and interest levels. A clear understanding of your audience ensures your message hits the right notes. For executives, I try sticking to a high-level overview by providing summary charts like a KPI dashboard. On the other hand, for front-line employees, I prefer detailed charts depicting day-to-day operational metrics. 2. Avoid Chart Junk: Embrace the beauty of simplicity. Avoid clutter and unnecessary embellishments. A clean, uncluttered visualization ensures that your message shines through without distractions. I focus on removing excessive gridlines, and unnecessary decorations while conveying the information with clarity. Instead of overwhelming your audience with unnecessary embellishments, opt for a clean, straightforward line chart displaying monthly trends. 3. Choose The Right Color Palette: Colors evoke emotions and convey messages. I prefer using a consistent color scheme across all my dashboards that align with my brand or the narrative. Using a consistent color scheme not only aligns with your brand but also aids in quick comprehension. For instance, use distinct colors for important data points, like revenue spikes or project milestones. 4. Highlight Key Elements: Guide your audience's attention by emphasizing critical data points. Whether it's through color, annotations, or positioning, make sure your audience doesn't miss the most important insights. Imagine presenting a market analysis with a scatter plot showing customer satisfaction and market share. By using bold colors to highlight a specific product or region, coupled with annotations explaining notable data points, you can guide your audience's focus. 5. Tell A Story With Your Data: Transform your numbers into narratives. Weave a compelling story that guides your audience through insights. A good data visualization isn't just a display; it's a journey that simplifies complexity. Recently I faced a scenario where I was presenting productivity metrics. Instead of just displaying a bar chart with numbers, I crafted a visual story. I started with the challenge faced, used line charts to show performance fluctuations, and concluded with a bar chart illustrating the positive impact of a recent strategy. This narrative approach helped my audience connect emotionally with the data, making it more memorable and actionable. Finally, remember that the goal of data visualization is to communicate complex information in a way that is easily understandable and memorable. It's both an art and a science, so keep experimenting and evolving. What are your go-to tips for crafting effective data visualizations? Share your insights in the comments below!

Do you want your data to make a difference? Transform your numbers into narratives that drive action—follow these five key steps: 📌 STEP 1: understand the context Before creating any visual, ask: - Who is your audience? - What do they need to know? - How will they use this information? Getting the context right ensures your message resonates. 📊 STEP 2: choose an appropriate graph Different visuals serve different purposes: - Want to compare values? Try a bar chart. - Showing trends? Use a line graph. - Need part-to-whole context? A stacked bar may work. Pick the right tool for the job! 🧹 STEP 3: declutter your graphs & slides More isn’t better. Remove unnecessary elements (gridlines, redundant labels, clutter) to let your data breathe. Less distraction = clearer communication. 🎯 STEP 4: focus attention Not all elements on your graphs and slides are equal. Use: ✔️ Color ✔️ Annotations ✔️ Positioning …to guide your audience’s eyes to what matters most. Help them know where to look and what to see. 📖 STEP 5: tell a story Numbers alone don’t inspire action—stories do. Structure your communication like a narrative: 1️⃣ Set the scene 2️⃣ Introduce the conflict (tension) 3️⃣ Lead to resolution (insight or action) Make it memorable! THAT'S the *storytelling with data* process! ✨ Following these five steps will help you create clear, compelling data stories. What's your favorite tip or strategy for great graphs and powerful presentations? Let us know in the comments!