People are visual creatures. We’re inherently better at making sense of visual cues than trying to make sense of a long list of numbers and figures. In fact, it’s safe to say that data visualization is the only way to truly make sense out of all those ones and zeros.
As data sets grow exponentially larger, with information being collected from numerous customer touchpoints, databases have become far too large for human interpretation alone. If you have the right data analytics and visualization tools on hand, however, you can turn that raw information into actionable insights that drive business growth.
#1. Choose the right visuals
Data visualization is all about making raw data visually pleasing. Choosing the right visuals depends on what sort of insights you want to glean from the data, whether you want to compare values, explore relationships between variables, or follow the latest trends. For example, a bar chart might be good for highlighting defective products, while a line chart will be better for visualizing trends.
#2. Use predictable patterns
When it comes to data analytics, it’s rarely a good idea to stray from the winning formula. The goal here is to help decision makers glean insights from statistical information. Since our eyes are drawn to indicators that tell us important things at a glance, we naturally seek out patterns.
If they appear to be random, they won’t make much sense, and it will be much harder to figure out what the visualization is trying to convey. That’s why it’s important to order and format your data in a way that makes sense to its viewers, whether that’s sequentially, alphabetically, or numerically.
#3. Add color wisely
Adding color to your data visualizations doesn’t just make them easier on the eye, it makes them easier to understand as well. For example, consider how heat maps typically use varying shades of red, orange, and yellow. Using green and blue, on the other hand, would be jarring and unintuitive.
You can convey a lot of information using color without having to rely on words. With many visualizations, such as line and bar charts, it’s best to use a small range of distinct colors, but other formats might look better with subtle gradients instead. Just make sure you’re not using too many colors or using too similar ones that the data starts to blend.
#4. Add clipart where necessary
Data visualization aims to give context to complex statistical information that’s hard to digest. It’s about telling a story from the numbers in an engaging and aesthetic way and, in doing so, making it more useful.
Depending on the sort of information you want to convey, relying on colors alone might not be enough. Shapes and clipart can help tell a more compelling story, and in some cases, they can even be used instead of a conventional chart. Similarly, you can use size to visualize values, whether you’re portraying them through shapes or clipart images.
#5. Don’t forget about text
Visualizations tell stories and illustrate facts, but to put them in context, you’ll still need to apply textual elements carefully. Text can certainly be distracting if you’re relying on it too much, but you’ll want more than the numbers assigned to the charts alone. Be sure to use typefaces that are in keeping with the overall aesthetics of your visualizations. If you’re creating them as marketing collateral, it’s a good idea to preserve your branding too.
Knowing the cardinal rules of data visualization can make a huge difference for your next presentation. If you need a feature-rich data visualization tools, Founders Technology Group LLC provides Power BI from Office 365. Call us today to learn more about the capabilities of this software.