FIGURE 0.1 A sampling of ineffective graphs
FIGURE 0.2 Example 1 (before): showing data
FIGURE 0.3 Example 1 (after): storytelling with data
FIGURE 0.4 Example 2 (before): showing data
FIGURE 0.5 Example 2 (after): storytelling with data
FIGURE 0.6 Example 3 (before): showing data
FIGURE 0.7 Example 3 (after): storytelling with data
Figure 1.1 Communication mechanism continuum
Figure 1.2 Example storyboard
Figure 2.1 The visuals I use most
Figure 2.2 Stay-at-home moms original graph
Figure 2.3 Stay-at-home moms simple text makeover
Figure 2.4 Table borders
Figure 2.5 Two views of the same data
Figure 2.6 Scatterplot
Figure 2.7 Modified scatterplot
Figure 2.8 Line graphs
Figure 2.9 Showing average within a range in a line graph
Figure 2.10 Slopegraph
Figure 2.11 Modified slopegraph
Figure 2.12 Fox News bar chart
Figure 2.13 Bar charts must have a zero baseline
Figure 2.14 Bar width
Figure 2.15 Bar charts
Figure 2.16 Comparing series with stacked bar charts
Figure 2.17 Waterfall chart
Figure 2.18 Horizontal bar charts
Figure 2.19 100% stacked horizontal bar chart
Figure 2.20 Square area graph
Figure 2.21 Pie chart
Figure 2.22 Pie chart with labeled segments
Figure 2.23 An alternative to the pie chart
Figure 2.24 Donut chart
Figure 2.25 3D column chart
Figure 2.26 Secondary y-axis
Figure 2.27 Strategies for avoiding a secondary y-axis
Figure 3.1 Gestalt principle of proximity
Figure 3.2 You see columns and rows, simply due to dot spacing
Figure 3.3 Gestalt principle of similarity
Figure 3.4 You see rows due to similarity of color
Figure 3.5 Gestalt principle of enclosure
Figure 3.6 The shaded area separates the forecast from actual data
Figure 3.7 Gestalt principle of closure
Figure 3.8 The graph still appears complete without the border and background shading
Figure 3.9 Gestalt principle of continuity
Figure 3.10 Graph with y-axis line removed
Figure 3.11 Gestalt principle of connection
Figure 3.12 Lines connect the dots
Figure 3.13 Summary of survey feedback
Figure 3.14 Revamped summary of survey feedback
Figure 3.15 Original graph
Figure 3.16 Revamped graph, using contrast strategically
Figure 3.17 Original graph
Figure 3.18 Remove chart border
Figure 3.19 Remove gridlines
Figure 3.20 Remove data markers
Figure 3.21 Clean up axis labels
Figure 3.22 Label data directly
Figure 3.23 Leverage consistent color
Figure 3.24 Before-and-after
Figure 4.1 A simplified picture of how you see
Figure 4.2 Count the 3s example
Figure 4.3 Count the 3s example with preattentive attributes
Figure 4.4 Preattentive attributes
Source: Adapted from Stephen Few’s Show Me the Numbers, 2004.
Figure 4.5 Preattentive attributes in text
Figure 4.6 Preattentive attributes can help create a visual hierarchy of information
Figure 4.7 Original graph, no preattentive attributes
Figure 4.8 Leverage color to draw attention
Figure 4.9 Create a visual hierarchy of information
Figure 4.10 Let’s revisit the ticket example
Figure 4.11 First, push everything to the background
Figure 4.12 Make the data stand out
Figure 4.13 Too many data labels feels cluttered
Figure 4.14 Data labels used sparingly help draw attention
Figure 4.15 Use color sparingly
Figure 4.16 Color options with brand color
Figure 4.17 The zigzag “z” of taking in information on a screen or page
Figure 5.1 OXO kitchen gadgets
Figure 5.2 Pew Research Center original graph
Figure 5.3 Highlight the important stuff
Figure 5.4 Eliminate distractions
Figure 5.5 Before-and-after
Figure 5.6 Clear visual hierarchy of information
Figure 5.7 Words used wisely
Figure 5.8 Let’s revisit the ticket example
Figure 5.9 Use words to make the graph accessible
Figure 5.10 Add action title and annotation
Figure 5.11 Method liquid dishwashing soap
Figure 5.12 Unaesthetic design
Figure 5.13 Aesthetic design
Figure 6.1 Line graph
Figure 6.2 Annotated line graph with forecast
Figure 6.3 100% stacked bars
Figure 6.4 Leveraging positive and negative stacked bars
Figure 6.5 Horizontal stacked bars
Figure 7.1 Bing, bang, bongo
Figure 7.2 Horizontal logic
Figure 7.3 Vertical logic
Figure 7.4 Reverse storyboarding
Figure 7.5 A fresh perspective
Figure 8.1 Original visual
Figure 8.2 Remove the variance in color
Figure 8.3 Emphasize 2010 forward
Figure 8.4 Change to line graph
Figure 8.5 Single line graph for all products
Figure 8.6 Eliminate clutter
Figure 8.7 Focus the audience’s attention
Figure 8.8 Refocus the audience’s attention
Figure 8.9 Refocus the audience’s attention again
Figure 8.10 Add text and align elements
Figure 8.12
Figure 8.13
Figure 8.14
Figure 8.15
Figure 8.16
Figure 8.17
Figure 8.18
Figure 8.20 Before-and-after
Figure 9.1 Simple graph on white, blue, and black background
Figure 9.2 Initial makeover on white background
Figure 9.3 Remake on dark background
Figure 9.4 Original graph
Figure 9.12 User satisfaction, original graph
Figure 9.13 Highlight the positive story
Figure 9.14 Highlight dissatisfaction
Figure 9.15 Focus on unused features
Figure 9.16 Set up the graph
Figure 9.17 Satisfaction
Figure 9.18 Dissatisfaction
Figure 9.19 Unused features
Figure 9.20 Comprehensive visual
Figure 9.21 The spaghetti graph
Figure 9.22 Emphasize a single line
Figure 9.23 Emphasize another single line
Figure 9.24 Pull the lines apart vertically
Figure 9.25 Pull the lines apart horizontally
Figure 9.26 Combined approach, with vertical separation
Figure 9.27 Combined approach, with horizontal separation
Figure 9.28 Original visual
Figure 9.29 Show the numbers directly
Figure 9.30 Simple bar graph
Figure 9.31 100% stacked horizontal bar graph
Figure 9.32 Slopegraph