GUIDE

Data Visualization
Guide

Tips and best practices for how to

choose the right data visualizations
for your dashboard
Contents

Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 3

What is data visualization? .......................................................................................................................... 4

What is the purpose of data visualization? ............................................................................................ 4

Why is data visualization important? ...................................................................................................... 5

What are the benefits of data visualization?......................................................................................... 6

How to choose the right data visualization for your dashboard? ................................................. 7

1. Determine purpose .................................................................................................................................................................... 7

2. Ensure your data story ........................................................................................................................................................... 9

Data Storytelling..............................................................................................................................................10

What types of data visualization are commonly used in dashboards? ..................................... 11

Data visualizations for showing value .......................................................................................................................... 12

Data visualizations for showing status ......................................................................................................................... 13

Data visualizations for showing trend........................................................................................................................... 14

Data visualizations for showing comparison .......................................................................................................... 15

Data visualizations for showing composition ..........................................................................................................17

Data visualizations for showing progress .................................................................................................................. 19

Data visualizations for showing distribution ........................................................................................................... 20

Data visualizations for showing deviation ................................................................................................................. 21

Data visualizations for showing relationship .......................................................................................................... 22

Data visualizations for showing risk ............................................................................................................................... 23

Data Visualization Dos and Don’ts .......................................................................................................... 24

Example Dashboard Layouts with Data Visualization ..................................................................... 26

Final thoughts .................................................................................................................................................. 28

About the Author ............................................................................................................................................ 29

Data Visualization
Guide
Tips and best practices for how to
choose the right data visualizations
for your dashboard

Introduction
Nearly all modern organizations today use data visualizations in
their practice. Data visualizations, such as charts, graphs, and heat
maps, are commonly used in business intelligence (BI) and data
analytics dashboards, and you also often see them in company
presentations, reports, and marketing collateral. Using data
visualizations makes data easier to understand and, if used
correctly, enables organizations to tell their data story, uncover
insights, see trends and patterns, identify areas for improvement,
and make informed, data-driven decisions.

There is no doubt that using data visualizations yields many

benefits, however, with so many data visualization options
available, selecting the right ones can be tricky.

This guide provides practical advice, tips, and best practices on

how to choose the right data visualizations for your dashboard, so
that you could facilitate better data understanding and effectively
communicate your data story.

Let’s start with the basics.

What is data visualization?
Data visualization is the representation of information and data
through the use of graphical elements such as charts, graphs,
plots, histograms, risk heat maps, and others. Data visualization
is a key component in data analytics as it simplifies the task of
reviewing large amounts of complex data and enables users to
extract actionable insights needed to achieve their goals.

What is the purpose

of data visualization?
The purpose of data visualization is to present data in a way
that is quick and easy to understand.

In most organizations data comes unstructured from various

sources and in various formats. Data visualization is a great tool
to create order out of this chaos. It enables organizations to
present insights from vast amounts of complex data in a clear
way and use them to guide informed decision-making.

Data visualizations are commonly used on dashboards to

visualize trends and comparisons, monitor the status of KPIs
and projects, and understand outliers and patterns in data.
Why is data visualization
important?
Data visualization is important because it allows us to comprehend
large amounts of data and make faster, data-driven decisions. With
data visualization, you can efficiently explore your data, understand
what your data is telling you, and quickly identify trends, patterns,
and relationships. Data visualization also helps us uncover insights
that would otherwise be difficult to spot in a raw data set.

Consider the example below:

Image 1 – data spreadsheet

Image 2 – data visualization

Both images present the same set of data, however, in comparison,

data visualization (image 2) makes it faster and easier to understand
the whole picture – overall performance throughout the year and
comparison of actual vs. target for each month.
What are the benefits
of data visualization?

There are numerous benefits to using data visualizations.

To name a few:

1. Make data easy to understand

Sifting through spreadsheets to find insights can be time-consuming
and inefficient. Data visualizations help summarize large amounts of
data and present it in a format that is easy to understand for technical
and non-technical users.

2. Unlock key values

Trying to find meaning in endless rows and columns of data can feel
overwhelming even for a trained data analyst. Presenting analyzed data
as data visualizations makes it easy to identify key values, pinpoint
opportunities, diagnose issues, and uncover areas for improvement.

3. Enable faster decision-making

Data visualization enables faster decision-making. As a matter of fact,
our brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text. When data is
properly visualized, it makes it easy for decision-makers to quickly spot
trends, patterns, and outliers, and make faster decisions.

4. Display complex relationships

Big data often comes from multiple sources and in various formats.
Data visualizations, such as scatter plots, make it possible to visualize
large volumes of complex data, which enables you to understand
relationships and correlations between different data points.

5. Make data more engaging

People are visual creatures. For most of us, data visualizations such as
charts, graphs, maps, or infographics are far more engaging, memorable,
and enjoyable to look at than plain numbers and text. Data visualizations
enable you to visualize your data alongside context and tell your data story
in the most compelling way.
How to choose the right data
visualization for your dashboard?
With so many data visualization options available, choosing the right ones for your
dashboard may seem tricky. To take the complexity out of the selection process,
consider this 2-step approach:

1. Determine the purpose

To choose the right data visualization, you must be clear about its purpose.
If your data visualization serves no purpose, it only clutters your dashboard.

To kickstart the data visualization selection process, ask yourself:

“What would you like to see?”

To help guide your answer, consider these common data visualization functions:

• Value – E.g., I want to see a number of open support tickets.

• Status – E.g., I want to see the status of our KPIs.

• Comparison – E.g., I want to see comparison of quarterly sales by region.

• Composition – E.g., I want to see composition of our staff.

• Trend – E.g., I want to see trend of units sold by month.

• Progress – E.g., I want to see progress of our strategic initiatives.

• Distribution – E.g., I want to see possible correlation between variables A and B.

• Deviation – E.g., I want to see if there are any outliers from our norms.

• Relationship – E.g., I want to see the relationship of our key value drivers.

• Risk – E.g., I want to see which risks need immediate action.

Don’t worry if your data visualization needs to serve more than one purpose.
As you will see in the section below, there are several types of data
visualizations that are suitable to serve multiple functions at once.

Once you are clear on “What would you like to see?” use the table below
to select data the visualization that best fits your purpose.
 What would you like to see?
I want to see…

Value Status Trend Comparison Composition

To show value, To show status, To show trend, To show comparison, To show composition,
use the following use the following use the following use the following use the following
data visualizations: data visualizations: data visualizations: data visualizations: data visualizations:

• Single value chart • Single value chart • Line chart • Column chart • Pie chart
• Table chart • Table chart • Sparkline • Bar chart • Doughnut chart
+ Status light • Area chart • Line chart • Stacked 100%
+ Gauge + Trend arrow • Stacked column column chart
chart • Stacked 100% bar
• Stacked bar chart chart

• Stacked area chart • Stacked 100% area

chart

Example use cases: Example use cases: Example use cases: Example use cases: Example use cases:

• Number of tasks in • Status of KPIs • Trend of sales • Sales comparison for • Revenue contribution by
progress • Status of KRIs performance for one one entity MOM different regions
• Number of new issues entity over time • Sales comparison for • Market share
• Status of projects
• Lists of Initiatives • Trend of cash flow for multiple entities MOM • Percent of budget spent
• Status of initiatives
multiple entities over • Sales comparison YOY –
• List of control measures • Status of audit process • Breakdown of expenses
time target vs. actual
• Risk register • Status of a corrective • Breakdown of profits by
• Trend of policy • Cost vs. revenue
• Perspectives of action source
breaches over time comparison
Balanced Scorecard • Survey results

Progress Distribution Deviation Relationship Risk

To show progress, To show distribution, To show deviation, To show relationship, To show risk,
use the following use the following use the following use the following use the following
data visualizations: data visualizations: data visualizations: data visualizations: data visualizations:

• Progress bar • Bar histogram • Column chart • Value driver tree • Risk heat map
• Gantt chart • Bar chart • Org chart
• Scatter plot
• Bubble chart

Example use cases: Example use cases: Example use cases: Example use cases: Example use cases:

• Progress of projects • Distribution of errors Deviations from a norm or • Organization’s value • Top 10 risks for an entire
• Progress of initiatives found during 2-week target, e.g.: drivers organization
software testing phase • Deviation from target • Corporate structure and • Aggregated risk view
• Progress of a risk
treatment • Distribution of research churn rate reporting hierarchy based on impact and
data to see possible • Deviation from a • Relationship between likelihood
• Progress of an
correlation between standard number of marketing spend ($) • Inherent risk and
onboarding process
variables A and B (e.g., products produced per and items sold (#) residual risk levels for a
• Progress of compliance correlation between month • Relationship between particular point in time
audit age and height)
• Deviation from standard cost ($), number of • Range of risks in a
• Progress of
sales ($) generated by orders (#), and profits specific business area
recertification process
a business unit ($) or department (e.g.,
finance)

Note: The data visualization options noted in the table above are merely suggestions.
They are by no means exhaustive of every data visualization option available.
2. Ensure your data story
Once you select your data visualization, it is time to ensure that
it is in fact the right data visualization for your dashboard. To do
so, look at your data visualization and ask:

“What story does your data tell?”

Correctly selected data visualization should make your data

story apparent – it should make it quick and easy for users to
understand what the data is telling them and whether action
is needed. If your selected data visualization does not present
your data story clearly, you may want to add more context or
explore other data visualization options.

See the next page for a quick overview of data storytelling, its
importance, and best practices.

Pro Tip: Beware of clutter. While context is necessary to tell

your data story, too much context may turn into clutter and
cloud your information. To keep you audience focused on
the most important parts of your data, ensure that your
data visualization provides just enough context needed for
decision making and eliminate the rest.
 Data Storytelling
- Quick Overview & Best Practices -

What is data storytelling?

Data storytelling is the ability to effectively communicate data insights as a compelling
narrative, tailored to a specific audience. Data storytelling combines data visualizations
with context to tell a story in which data insights are the heroes. A good data story
presents a clear data picture and why it matters.

Why is data storytelling important?

Data storytelling helps ensure that data insights are presented in a way that is
meaningful, engaging, and relevant to the audience. Data stories enable organizations
to communicate data insights in a compelling way that drives action.

How to ensure that your data tells a story?

For data to tell a story, it needs to be displayed in a business context – alongside relevant
data, comparisons, trends, and other key information. For instance, if your dashboard
shows that you sold 200 units of your product – what does it really mean? Is 200 too many
or too few? To understand what this data is telling you, show how it compares to the units
sold in the previous months. You may also want to know where the sales came from –
was the sale generated by a single team or by multiple teams? And how does this
compare to your targets?

Data Storytelling Best Practices

• Understand what context your audience needs based on their role
and select your data visualization accordingly
• Keep in mind that:
o Different roles have different needs. For instance, the executive
leadership team may require high level context, while department
heads may require more information to make decisions.
o Different types of data visualization provide different levels of
context. For instance, tables and column charts may
communicate a lot more context than a pie chart. Data without context
is meaningless.
• Use language, terminology, and acronyms familiar to your audience
• Eliminate clutter to keep your audience’s focus on what is important Data with context
• Utilize design concepts to draw attention to key information is value.
• Title your charts, label your axes, and include legends where needed
• Ensure that all text is legible
What types of data
visualization are commonly
used in dashboards?
There are many different types of data visualizations and
many different types of dashboards. Business Intelligence (BI)
dashboards can be categorized as strategic, operational,
analytical, and tactical. Dashboards can however be also
categorized by their purpose – e.g., executive dashboards,
management KPI dashboards, IT project management
dashboards, HR dashboards, marketing dashboards, etc.
Without getting into the weeds of dashboard categorization,
in general, the most common types of data visualization used
in dashboards are listed on the following pages.

They are organized by function as follows:

• Data visualizations for showing value

• Data visualizations for showing status

• Data visualizations for showing trend

• Data visualizations for showing comparison

• Data visualizations for showing composition

• Data visualizations for showing progress

• Data visualizations for showing distribution

• Data visualizations for showing deviation

• Data visualizations for showing relationship

• Data visualizations for showing risk

Data visualizations
for showing value

Single value chart

A single value chart is simple chart used to display a single numeric value.
E.g., a number of projects in progress, a number of initiatives behind
schedule, a number of new risks, a number of pending support tickets, etc.
Sometimes displaying a single value is all that is needed to get your
message across.

Table chart
A table chart, or simply a table, is a data visualization that displays data
values in rows and columns. Tables are great for presenting data in a
structured, organized way. They also make it easy to sort, filter, and compare
large amounts of data. Tables are especially beneficial to use when your
data story requires lots of details – e.g., when you want to show who, what,
where, when (start date and end date), progress, priority, status, etc. in a
single view.
Data visualizations
for showing status

Status light
A status light is a data visualization for showing a status of data (e.g., KPI,
initiative, risk, etc.). Status lights are typically used inside tables or single
value charts, and they typically follow the traditional “traffic lights” color
scheme where green means good (e.g., on track, on budget, etc.), yellow
means attention (e.g., possible issues, expired certification, etc.), and red
means danger (e.g., behind schedule, below threshold, etc.) – this enables
users to quickly identify which items on their dashboard need attention.
Status lights are commonly used to communicate status, but they may
also be used to convey priority and categories.

Gauge
A gauge chart, or simply a gauge, is a data visualization that maps a single
value (often a summary of other values) against a range of colors – usually
red to green, or green to red. Gauges typically resemble a rating meter (a
semi-circle with a pointer in the middle), a speedometer (a radial gauge),
or a thermometer (filler gauge and marker gauge); other variations exist.
Gauges are useful because they enable users to quicky understand a status
of a metric against a set target.
Data visualizations
for showing trend

Line chart
Line chart is the most common chart type for showing trends. Line charts
can be used to show trends and changes over time for one or multiple
variables (e.g., sales over time for one or multiple regions). They can also be
used to show comparison (e.g., target vs. actual for one business unit, sales
comparison for multiple business units).

Sparkline
A sparkline is a miniature line chart typically used in tables to provide at-a-
glance historical context. Sparklines are intentionally very simple. They are
not meant to provide precise measures, but rather a snapshot overview of
the historical trend leading up to the present value

Area chart
An area chart, aka area graph, is an extension of a line chart. Area charts
are commonly used to present trend and accumulative value changes over
time, often in comparison with other values. Area charts use shading
between the y-axis and the baseline to represent an area and emphasize
data trends. When two or more values are displayed (aka overlapping area
chart), the shading should be transparent for clarity.

Trend arrow
Trend arrows are visual indicators of a trend of a metric. Trend arrows are
supplemental data visualizations often used inside single value charts and
tables. Trend arrows are useful because they enable users to quickly
understand how things are going. Typically, a green upward trend arrow
indicates a positive trend, a yellow rightward/leftward trend arrow indicates
no or neutral changes, and a red downward arrow indicates a negative
trend.
Data visualizations for
showing comparison

Column chart
A column chart is a data visualization that uses columns with heights
proportional to the values they represent. Column charts are most often
used to compare values for different categories or compare value changes
over a period of time for a single category. In a typical column chart,
categories are displayed on X-axis (horizontal line) and values are
displayed on Y-axis (vertical line). To prevent misinterpretation, the
numerical axis should always start at zero.

Bar chart
Bar charts are essentially horizontal column charts, and they serve the same
purpose – they visualize comparison for one or more variables. In a typical
bar chart, categories are displayed on Y-axis (vertical line) and values are
displayed on X-axis (horizontal line). When your category labels run long, it is
often better to use a bar chart, instead of column chart, because it offers
more room for your category labels.

Line chart
Line charts may be used to visualize comparison of different data sets over
time. They may also be used in combination with column charts to visualize
comparison together with trend.

For more info on line charts, see Data visualization for showing trend.

Stacked column chart

A stacked column chart is a column chart where each column is divided into
multiple parts to show comparison between categories over time. Stacked
column charts can also be used to show a part-to-whole composition
where the parts in each column add up to 100%.
Stacked bar chart
A stacked bar chart is a bar chart where each bar is divided into multiple
parts to show to show comparison between categories over time. Stacked
column charts can also be used to show a part-to-whole composition
where the parts in each bar add up to 100%.

Pro Tip: When comparing data for a single variable over time,
typically, column charts make it easier to compare data than line
charts. However, when small changes exist, it is better to use (or
add) a line chart because it makes it easier to see whether a
value has gone up or down.

Stacked area chart

A stacked area chart is an area chart that shows multiple data series
stacked on top of another. Stacked area charts are appropriate to use for
showing the evolution of the whole and the relative proportions of each
group. Unlike in traditional (overlapping) area charts, in stacked area charts
the values are stacked on top of another. Areas do not overlap, they are
stacked. Because of that, stacked area charts can often be difficult to
interpret (i.e., the area on top could be mistakenly perceived as being the
largest). Therefore, stacked area charts need to be used with care.

Pro Tip: When used to show comparison, stacked tacked area

charts are the clearest to interpret when there are big differences
in the values of data. When only small changes exist, stacked
area charts might be difficult to understand.
Data visualizations for
showing composition

Pie chart
A pie chart is a data visualization that displays data in a circular graph. The
pieces (slices) of the graph are proportional to the count or the percentage
that they represent. Pie charts are best used to show a composition of a
whole or a percent complete. Pie charts do not show changes over time, and
they should not be used to visualize trends, comparison, or distribution.

Doughnut chart
Doughnut chart is a pie chart with a whole in the middle. Pie charts and
doughnut charts serve the same purpose and may be used
interchangeably. From a design point of view, doughnut charts look lighter
and more elegant. They also provide a space in a middle that may be used
for a value that communicates a percent complete.

Pro Tip: Pie charts and doughnut charts are the most frequently
misused charts. They can be confusing and misleading if used
incorrectly. To ensure clarity when using pie charts or doughnut
charts, ensure that all parts add up to a clearly stated whole,
ideally 100%. Also, they are best used when the number of
variables to display is five or less.

Stacked 100% column chart

When using a stacked column chart to show composition, the sum of all
parts in each column should add up 100%.

For more info on stacked column charts, see Data visualization for showing
comparison.
Stacked 100% bar chart
When using a stacked bar chart to show composition, the sum of all parts in
each bar should add up 100%.

For more info on stacked bar charts, see Data visualization for showing
comparison.

Stacked 100% area chart

When using a stacked area chart to show composition, the sum of all parts
in each period should add up 100%.

For more info on stacked area charts, see Data visualization for showing
comparison.

Pro Tip: Stacked areas are the clearest to interpret when they are
used to show composition when the values for each time period
add up to 100%.
Data visualizations
for showing progress

Progress bar
A progress bar is a type of bar chart that shows a progress of a task, project,
initiative, process, etc. towards a goal. A progress bar is typically represented
as a horizontal bar with a numerical percentage to the far right of the bar.
Progress bars enable users to have an at-a-glance understanding of a
progress made so far.

Gantt chart
A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule.
Gantt charts are typically used by project managers to outline project
tasks, visualize dependencies between tasks, assign resources,
communicate milestones, manage change, and track the project’s
progress from start to finish.
Data visualizations for
showing distribution

Bar histogram
A histogram is a chart type that is used to visualize a distribution of a
dataset – how often values fall into specified ranges or bins. Histograms
display data in columns, however, unlike column charts, histograms typically
have no gaps between the columns to emphasize the variable’s continuous
nature.
Data visualizations
for showing deviation

Column chart
Column charts may be used to spot deviations from norms. Column charts
make it easy to spot, for instance, if a number of units produced per month
deviates from the norm.

For more info on column charts, see Data visualization for showing
comparison.

Bar chart
Similarly to column charts, bar charts may be used to spot deviations from
norms. Bar charts make it easy to spot, for instance, if a number of returned
orders deviates from the norm.

For more info on bar charts, see Data visualization for showing comparison.
Data visualizations for
showing relationship

Value Driver Tree

A Value Driver Tree is a hierarchical representation of relationships between
data in a horizontal tree-like structure. A value driver tree is commonly used
to visualize organization’s value drivers, strategic objectives, and key
performance indicators (KPIs). A traditional value driver tree is read left to
right, where the main value driver is listed on the left and then branches into
two or more value drivers, each of which branches into two or more
supporting value drivers, and so on. The final value driver tree visualization
resembles a tree with a trunk and multiple branches.

Org chart
An organizational chart (org charts), also called an organogram or a
hierarchy chart, is a diagram that shows hierarchical relationships between
data. An org chart is commonly used to display corporate structure and
reporting hierarchy. On dashboards, org charts may be used, for instance, to
visualize a employees’ roles alongside their certification status.

Scatter plot
A scatter plot (aka scatter chart, scatter graph) is a chart type that is
primarily used to observe a relationship between two numeric variables.
Scatter plots use dots to represent values and help identify correlational
relationships (positive, negative, moderate, linear, non-linear, etc.), which
may not be clearly visible when looking at a raw data set. Scatter plots also
make it easy to spot anomalies and outliers.

Bubble chart
Bubble charts (aka bubble plots, bubble graphs) are extended scatter plots,
where dots are replaced with bubbles to add a third dimension represented
by a size of the bubble. You may also add a fourth dimension by using color.
The size and color of the bubbles may be used to indicate additional
information such as categorical or numeric data. Bubble charts are useful
for observing relationships in data.
Data visualizations
for showing risk

Risk heat map

A risk heat map is a data visualization tool used to present results of a risk
assessment in a visual way. Risk heat maps are typically used in Enterprise
Risk Management (ERM) to identify and prioritize business-related risks. The
most common type of risk heat map is a 5x5 grid where green colored boxes
indicate low risk – no action needed, and red colored boxes indicate high
risk – immediate action needed. Based on qualitative and quantitative risk
assessment, individual risks are plotted on the heat map based upon their
potential impact and likelihood of occurring.

Pro Tip: The better the quality of your risk assessment, the better
the quality of the information presented in your risk heat map.
 Data Visualization Dos and Don’ts
Good data visualization leads to good decisions. Poor data visualization may lead to poor decisions.
Here is a list of data visualization best practices and mistakes to avoid when choosing data
visualization for your dashboard.

Dos Don’ts
Data visualization best practices Data visualization mistakes to avoid

Do choose your data Don’t choose your data

visualization with purpose visualization at random
• When deciding on which type of data • Choosing data visualization at random
visualization to use, have a goal in mind – without thought could make it difficult to get
know what you are trying to visualize your data story across. For instance,
(comparison, composition, trend, status, choosing a pie chart to visualize trends
progress, deviation, etc.) and select your would only confuse your audience. A line
visualization accordingly. chart would be a better option.

Do give just enough information Don’t give too much information

• Data visualization is about telling your data • Avoid information overload. Including too
story. To keep your data story crystal clear, many unnecessary or irrelevant details in
give your audience just enough information your data visualization could clutter your
to help them understand what the data is data story – making it difficult for your
telling them. audience to understand what they should
focus on. Instead, identify what your
• Ensure that your charts are titled, your values
audience needs to know and exclude
and axes are labeled, and your legend is
everything else.
clearly displayed, as applicable.

Do choose your colors wisely Don’t use troublesome colors

• Always choose your colors deliberately. • Avoid using colors that are too similar to one
Ideally, you want to choose a set of distinct another as that could make it difficult for
colors that are easy to tell apart and that your audience to tell them apart.
help add meaning to your visualization. If
• Avoid using colors that are too bright and
applicable, you may draw inspiration from
vibrant (e.g. electric yellow, neon pink) as
your brand colors.
those typically don’t display well on screens.
• If your data visualization will be used in a
• Avoid using patterns, textures, and fancy
printed report, check how your colors look
shading as fills as those could make your
when printed out in grayscale. If your colors
data visualization look unnecessarily busy.
blend together, change them.
 Do follow known color Don’t break known color
conventions conventions
Follow known color conventions such as: Do not break known color conventions to
convey opposite meanings. For instance:
• Green means positive, red means
negative • Don’t use green to illustrate that things
are negative / going badly
• Red means hot, blue means cold
• Don’t use red to illustrate that things
are positive / going well

Do keep the design simple Don’t use 3D effects

• Keep your data visualizations clean and • Don’t use 3D graphics – they make data
simple. Remember, the goal of data visualizations unnecessarily complicated,
visualization is to present information in a difficult to read, and often downright
way that makes it easy to understand. misleading.

• Your audience will be able to understand • Don’t use blow apart effects – they tend to
your data faster if your data visualization is reduce comprehension and show incorrect
kept as simple as possible. proportions.

Do include a baseline Don’t truncate axes

• When using column charts, your y-axis • Don’t truncate the column chart’s y-axis as
should always start at zero. Omitting the that could distort the data representation
baseline (starting y-axis at a value above and mislead your audience.
zero) results in a truncated chart, which may
give a misleading impression of the Exception: For line charts showing trend, the Y-
presented data. axis can be truncated to show trend clearly.

Do keep all text legible Don’t make it an eye test

• To keep your data visualizations easy to • Don’t use font sizes and font styles that are
understand, ensure that all text is large too small or difficult to read.
enough to be legible.

Do ask for feedback and optimize Don’t let your data visualizations
accordingly over time go stale and dated
• Once you select your data visualizations and • The only constant in business is change. To
add them to your dashboard (presentation, ensure that your data visualizations continue
report, etc.), ask for feedback. Is your data to serve your users well, conduct a periodic
story clear? Is everything clearly labeled? Is design audit of your dashboards to assess
all text legible? Another set of eyes provides whether your chosen data visualizations still
a fresh perspective and may bring out provide value, or whether they should be
details you may have overlooked. optimized or eliminated.

Pro Tip: Don’t overdo it – don’t overcram your dashboards with too many data visualizations. A dashboard
that looks cluttered only causes confusion. Keep your dashboard looking neat and organized by selecting
your data visualizations with purpose and using a set color palette.
Example Dashboard Layouts
with Data Visualization
- Built in Corporater BMP -
Final thoughts
In today’s data-driven business environment, it is critical to cultivate a data-
driven culture where decisions are made based on facts and insights. That
begins with collecting quality data, extracting insights, and communicating
those insights to those who need them, when they need them, and in a way
that is easy to understand.

Dashboards with carefully selected data visualizations are a great tool to

facilitate data access and understanding. They enable users to comprehend
large data sets at a glance, visualize their data story, and make faster, data-
driven decisions that drive value for their organization.

There are many different types of data visualization available, which can make
the process of selecting the right ones for your dashboard feel overwhelming.
To simplify the process, consider this 2-step approach:

• Step 1: Determine the purpose – Ask: “What would you like to see?”
(status, trend, comparison, composition, distribution, etc.) and then
select your data visualization accordingly.

• Step 2: Ensure your data story – Ask: “What story does your data tell?”
and then optimize your data visualization accordingly. If your data
visualization doesn’t present your data story clearly at a glance, add
more context or consider other data visualization options.

Choosing the right data visualization can greatly enhance your audience’s
understanding of the presented information. On the other hand, choosing a
wrong one may leave them feeling confused and frustrated.

To ensure maximum comprehension, keep your data visualizations clean and

simple, choose your colors wisely, label your variables, and ensure that all text is
legible. Remember, the purpose of data visualization is to present data in a way
that is easy to understand.

Lastly, who better to verify whether you selected the right data visualizations
than the people using your dashboards? To ensure that your data visualizations
continue to serve your organization well, ask your users for input and optimize
your dashboards as needed. A good business management software will allow
you to create custom dashboards, visualize your data in various ways, and
make ongoing updates as your business needs change.

Happy visualizing!
About the Author

Emma Ramos is a brand specialist, copywriter, and

UI/UX designer. She develops marketing strategies
and content that enable organizations to create
meaningful relationships with their customers.

You may contact Emma by email at

ramos@corporater.com.
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