Making figures legible.
WHAT AN INFOGRAPHIC SHOULD DO
Make one point clearly.
WHAT MOST DO INSTEAD
Present many figures with no argument.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH FIRST
The single conclusion the reader should reach.
WHAT CHART TYPE TO USE
Bars for comparison between categories Lines for change over time Scatter for relationship between two measures
WHAT TO AVOID
Pie charts with many segments Three-dimensional effects Truncated axes that exaggerate differences Dual axes that imply relationships
WHY TRUNCATED AXES MATTER
They misrepresent, and readers who notice stop trusting everything else.
WHAT TO LABEL
The axes The units The source The period covered
WHY THE SOURCE
Unsourced figures are not evidence.
WHAT TO SIMPLIFY
Gridlines Borders Decoration Colours beyond what distinguishes the data
WHAT ORDER TO ARRANGE CATEGORIES IN
By value, unless there is a natural order.
WHY
It makes comparison immediate.
WHAT TO CHECK
That the visual proportions match the numerical ones.
WHAT TO TEST
Whether someone unfamiliar reaches your conclusion unaided.
