by Dona M. Wong

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About the Book

In today’s data-driven world, professionals need to know how to express themselves in the language of graphics effectively and eloquently. Yet information graphics is rarely taught in schools or is the focus of on-the-job training. Now, for the first time, Dona M. Wong, a student of the information graphics pioneer Edward Tufte, makes this material available for all of us. In this book, you will learn:

• to choose the best chart that fits your data;
• the most effective way to communicate with decision makers when you have five minutes of their time;
• how to chart currency fluctuations that affect global business;
• how to use color effectively;
• how to make a graphic “colorful” even if only black and white are available.

The book is organized in a series of mini-workshops backed up with illustrated examples, so not only will you learn what works and what doesn’t but also you can see the dos and don’ts for yourself. This is an invaluable reference work for students and professional in all fields.

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Quotes & Ideas

Chapter 1 • The Basics

Charting

How to create effective charts

The best charting practice is to systematically follow four essential steps:

• Research
  • Research from up-to-the-minute authoritative sources.
  • Use an independent source for disputable data that is open to interpretation, such as market share, to avoid bias and conflict of interest.
  • Obtain permission to use the data, if required.
• Edit
  • Identify your key message.
  • Choose the best data series to illustrate your point, e.g. market share vs. total revenue.
  • Filter and simplify the data to deliver the essence of the data to your intended audience.
  • Make numerical adjustments to the raw data to enhance your point, e.g. absolute values vs. percentage change.
• Plot
  • Choose the right chart type to present the data, e.g. a line to show trend or a bar to show discrete quantities.
  • Choose the appropriate chart settings, e.g. scale, y-axis increments and baseline.
  • Label the chart, e.g. title, description, legends and source line. • Use color and typography to accentuate the key message.
• Review
  • Check the plotted data against your sources.
  • Use judgment to evaluate whether your chart makes sense.
  • Try to look at the chart from the reader's perspective.
  • Verify your data with additional sources and consult with experts in the field for questionable content and outliers.

Numbers