Top 10 Data Design Dos and Don’ts : Best Practices for Clear Visuals

Designing data visuals doesn’t have to be hard. With a basic understanding of how to show different types of data and a few key design tips, you can make clear and accurate visualizations. Follow these 10 easy tips to make sure your data is both effective and easy to understand.

Do's

Use Icons to Enhance Comprehension

Incorporating icons into your data visuals can significantly improve understanding while reducing the need for excessive labeling. Icons provide a visual representation of concepts, making it easier for viewers to grasp the information quickly. By using clear and relevant icons, you can convey complex ideas more simply and effectively. This approach not only streamlines your design but also helps maintain the audience's focus on the key data points, enhancing the overall impact of your visualizations.

Visualize Data for Easy Comparison

Ensure your data is displayed in a way that allows readers to easily compare values. Choosing the right chart or graph is crucial for making comparisons clear. For example, bar charts or side-by-side comparisons work well for showing differences between categories. Avoid cluttered or complex visuals that might confuse the audience. Keeping the design simple and structured helps viewers quickly interpret and understand the data relationships, leading to more effective communication.

Use Callouts to Highlight Key Information

Incorporate callouts in your data visuals to draw attention to important or interesting information. Callouts help emphasize critical data points or insights that you want your audience to focus on. By using clear, concise text or symbols near the relevant area, you can ensure that significant findings are not overlooked. This simple addition enhances the clarity of your visual and makes it easier for viewers to grasp the most important takeaways.

Organize Data Sets with Logical Hierarchy

When presenting data, ensure that it's ordered in a logical hierarchy to make it easier for readers to follow. Arrange the data in a way that reflects its natural progression, such as from highest to lowest, chronological order, or by category importance. This structure helps guide the viewer’s eye through the information, improving clarity and comprehension. A well-organized hierarchy ensures that the data flows smoothly and that the key points stand out.

Use One Color to Represent Each Category

When visualizing data, assign a distinct color to each category to make comparisons easier and more intuitive. Using one consistent color per category helps viewers quickly identify and distinguish between different data sets. This approach improves clarity and ensures that your audience can follow the relationships between categories without confusion. Avoid using too many colors, as this can overwhelm the viewer and reduce the effectiveness of the visualization.

Dont's

Avoid Distracting Fonts and Styling Elements

When designing data visuals, it's important to keep the focus on the data itself. Using distracting fonts or styling elements like bold, italic, or underlined text can pull attention away from the information you're presenting. Stick to clean, simple fonts and minimal styling to ensure your visuals remain clear and easy to read. Overusing these elements can make your design look cluttered and reduce the effectiveness of your data.

Avoid High Contrast Color Combinations

When designing your data visuals, steer clear of high contrast color combinations like red and green or blue and yellow. These combinations can be hard to read for many viewers, especially those with color vision deficiencies. Instead, opt for color palettes that are more harmonious and accessible, ensuring that your data is easy to understand for everyone. Using softer contrasts will improve readability and enhance the overall effectiveness of your visualizations.

Limit the Use of Colors to 6 or Fewer

Avoid using more than six colors in a single layout to keep your data visualization clean and easy to interpret. Too many colors can overwhelm the viewer and make it difficult to focus on the key information. Stick to a limited color palette to maintain clarity and ensure that your audience can easily differentiate between categories or data points. Fewer colors create a more cohesive and professional-looking design, making your visuals more effective.

Avoid Adding Chart Junk

Steer clear of unnecessary illustrations, drop shadows, or ornamental elements—commonly referred to as chart junk—that can distract from your data. These extra decorations add clutter and shift the viewer’s focus away from the information you’re presenting. Keep your visualizations clean and straightforward to ensure the data remains the central focus. By eliminating unnecessary design elements, you enhance clarity and make your charts more effective in communicating the key insights.

Avoid 3D Charts

Steer clear of using 3D charts, as they can distort the data and skew the viewer's perception. The added depth in 3D visuals often makes it harder to accurately compare values, leading to misinterpretation. Stick to 2D charts for clearer, more accurate representations of your data. By avoiding unnecessary complexity, you ensure that your visualizations are easy to understand and that the data is presented accurately.