6 Ways to Create Good Data Visualization Designs

The human brain is an amazing organ. This is because of how it comprehends information.

Researchers at the Rochester Review assert that 50% of your brain processes visual data. That is just half of your brain.

In the modern world, every one of us is data-driven. It is interesting to know that we are more exposed to information than people in 1986.

The courses that we study in school can involve collecting and analyzing data. The careers we undertake may also include data analysis and visualizations.

It is crucial for us to know where to collect data so that we can gain knowledge on a particular subject. Organizing information with the proper data visualization designs can give us a competitive advantage.

Therefore with this understanding, we need to understand how we can visualize data and what we can do to be in a better position in data presentation.

In this blog, we will learn more about how we can visualize data and use data visualization design examples for better understanding.

What is Data Visualization?

Definition: Data visualization is changing information into a visual form such as a chart or graph to make it easier to understand.

Visualizing data into a simple chart makes it easy for you to obtain crucial insights.

Your primary objective of data visualization is to help you identify outliers and trends in your significant data story.

People usually use the term data visualization instead of other words. One of the common terms we often use is names such as statistical charts.

Data visualization is part of a process we undertake after collecting data from the field. This step is essential as it can help you reach conclusions about your research topic of interest.

Benefits of Data Visualization

Businesses and other significant organizations that use large data sets find it challenging to collect insights from such data.

We must ask ourselves what such businesses can do using data visualization design examples to make the most out of their business activities.

Let us dive into how data visualization design examples can benefit you:

• Simple understanding

When using one of the data visualization design examples for your audience, the goal is to present your data story that is easy for everyone.

What your audience wants is helpful information. Good data visualization will help you reduce unnecessary details from your report.

• It helps you to unlock vital values

When dealing with a massive data set, summarizing that information into solid values can be difficult and tedious.

At this point is where data visualization comes in aid. Critical insights can be visible when you have the right visualization design.

Even an individual in your company who is not good at statistics can easily interpret what you present with a suitable data visualization design.

• User engagement

When you use any data visualization design examples, you will find that most of them appeal to your audience’s eye.

You are free to customize your charts and graphs with colors to look better.

A graph that is just plain with no colors on it can appear to be boring for your audience to follow up.

A data visualization design with colorful transitions will help your audience quickly move between various points in your data story.

Attractive data visualization designs increase user engagement because you and your audience can easily understand and interpret the storyline.

• Decision making

For instance, when you work for an organization and you need to present information to your stakeholders, it becomes simple for them to understand the information you submit.

A simple data visualization design can help you identify strengths, weaknesses, and patterns, which can help you make decisions for consumer satisfaction.

Using a data visualization design helps you reach actionable conclusions on how to improve your business strategy.

Now that we have tackled the benefits you can gain from data visualization let us know how to create good data visualization designs.

Ways to Create Good Data Visualization Designs

In using any of the data visualization design examples correctly, you can achieve your objective of simple conveyance of information.

Choosing the right data visualization design can do more harm than good because you will leave your audience feeling content with your presentation.

When you design such visualizations, there are particular principles you need to consider to ensure that your visualization is effective.

Let us take a look at six of them in detail.

• Know your Audience

When choosing a data visualization design, you must understand what your target audience wants and how they will view your presentation.

It is also essential to design a visualization based on what you want to put across and the emphasis you wish to address.

Your objective is to make your work easy for you and your audience so they can also take part in your conclusions.

Understanding the audience means you need access to information they are familiar with. 

Always consider their capabilities of reading and interpreting various types of charts and graphs.

When designing a chart, map, or graph, keep your audience in mind and their level of understanding.

• Selecting a Suitable Visualization Design

When choosing the best data visualization design, it is essential to know the kinds of diagrams and their uses.

Your audience will pay attention to a graph or diagram they are most familiar with. Choose from one of the data visualization design examples they can easily comprehend.

When you select one of the complex data visualization design examples you cannot understand, you will do more harm to your audience than good.

Some of the data visualization design examples include:

• Bar graphs: Most of your audience is familiar with bar graphs that compare various factors.
• Line graphs: You can use such diagrams to analyze changes and trends in your business or a particular product.
• Maps: You can use these diagrams to visualize geographical locations and topics evolving countries such as health and business.
• Sankey diagram: You can use a Sankey diagram to compare various portions of a particular phenomenon in a flow. 

Your audience can find them simple to understand depending on what you use these data visualization design examples to represent.

• Organizing your Data Visualization Designs

As we keep emphasizing, the point is to help your audience understand essential insights from your data story.

When you present your information in its raw form, you will not make sense of the message you convey. The objective of organizing your data is to add clarity and consistency.

To ensure your viewers have an easy time understanding your reports, organize your work in a logical format.

Label the charts and diagrams where necessary. Do this by titling your visualization designs with insights. 

Your audience is not a group of robots; you must organize, so they do not get confused. 

• Provide Context to your Data

Since you want to put your audience first in your data story, you must help them grasp what you want them to observe. 

With this understanding, every piece of data you give your audience serves as context. Put emphasis where necessary on the relevance of your data.

If your data does not have a context, it can appear misleading to your audience. 

Use the data you want to present and compare it with relatable information so your audience can observe and compare it with what they already know.

For example, when you want to visualize average salaries by leagues, choose an organized visual with context, as shown below.

• Eliminate Unnecessary Data

Since you want a data visualization design that is clear and concise, it is crucial to know what to include in your data story and what to eliminate.

One of the questions you need to ask yourself is whether some of your information helps highlight your insights. From the data visualization design examples, you can choose what can represent your data best.

If some of the information is surplus and confusing, ensure you do the right thing by eliminating them. The objective is to ensure that the data is straight to the point.

Below is an example of a data visualization design that can be confusing to your audience to follow.

Source: Visualizing trouble

• Use and Distribute Suitable Colors

As you may be aware, colors help make something more attractive. It is one of the best ways to ensure that the audience is attentive to your data story.

As a presenter, your wish is to create visualization designs with visual attractions. In this regard, it is essential to be consistent in how you color your charts.

Do not make the mistake of using too many colors, which can confuse your audience. Select color schemes with higher contrast to enable people to read and interpret your visualization diagrams.

For example, if you want to emphasize a particular point in your visualization, use a different color so the audience can know what you want to highlight. 

Source: Polymer Search

Wrap Up

To sum up, what we have discussed so far, we have learned the basics you need to know about data visualization and its benefits.

When you appropriately design your visualization charts, you can win your audience with the insights you provide.

When you design a visualization diagram inappropriately, your audience can be skeptical about the information you present.

As we have emphasized, use a suitable visualization chart your audience can easily interpret. Do not use a bar graph where a line graph can serve a better purpose.

By following the above ways, and the data visualization design examples, you stand a better chance of giving your audience an easy time reading and interpreting your data.

Now you have the confidence to create a good data visualization design. Create one today and see the remarkable results it brings to your business.