Best Practices

While many charts technically work (the best kind of "work") for a given dataset, that doesn't mean all charts are a good fit.

• Bar and Column Charts: Compare categories
• Line Charts: Show change over time
• Pie and Donut Charts: Show proportions and percentages
• Maps: Visualize location-based data
• Tables: Display precise values when needed

Here are some of my rules of thumb for choosing the right chart and organizing them into useful reports.

1. Simplicity

• Use only the visuals you need to tell the story.
• Avoid unnecessary effects like 3D charts or shadows (looking at you, WordArt).
• Don't overload a single page with too many visuals – use multiple tabs if needed.
• Focus on one key message per chart.
• If your audience can't understand the chart in 10 seconds, it's probably too complicated.

2. Consistency

• Keep font sizes, titles, and layouts uniform.
• Use the same capitalization and terminology across charts.
• Use consistent data formatting (e.g., all percentages or all currency).
• Don't mix unrelated chart types on the same report page.

3. Readability

• Ensure there's enough contrast between text and background.
• Avoid overlapping labels or tiny fonts.
• Keep spacing clean and even.