Design theory: How to design electronic charts

The original: How to make graphs that work

Author: Seth Godin

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1. Don't let popular electronic forms affect the way you make charts

It's a nightmare tragedy that 92% of all U.S. business copywriting is done by big companies using Excel or PowerPoint template features.

First of all, programmers often do not have good taste. Fonts usually loose (flaccid), pale, and can not arouse the interest of people, is not mature.

Second, and more important, when you show me what I've seen hundreds of times, what do you expect me to say? Here's a hint: zzzzz.

2. tell a good story

I imagine that there are only 4 reasons why you would want to show someone a chart (not a table and a picture full of information, but a graph full of numbers):

• This chart is very good, go and see!
• This chart is like a nightmare, help!
• Nothing is happening.
• We need to work together to find out what this data means.

I think if it's a 3rd reason, you might be able to get the picture together. The 4th reason is not a reason to really want to use graphs, it's just a job discussion. So, in terms of 1th and 2nd, you're just like trying to light a fire, to elaborate a point of view, or to make some trends more prominent, and that's why you're using the chart. So your chart needs to reflect these things, or you're wasting my time.

3. follow a few simple principles

When you violate the basic principles of cartography, you will confuse the reader or allow the reader to put energy into the reality that is not what you want to express. Here are some guidelines for you to refer to:

• The time should be placed at the bottom of the chart, and be represented from left to right from close to far.
• A good result should appear gradually upwards on the y axis. This means that if you want to make a chart for weight loss, do not "I weigh it now", as the result of such a good presentation is gradually downward. The correct way is to make a chart by "percentage of the goal to achieve weight loss" or "How much I've lost".
• Do not connect unrelated data. For example, an IQ chart for children in all classes in kindergartens should be a series of unrelated points, rather than a linear chart. On the other hand, your weight loss is actually an ongoing process, so every day's data should be attached.
• The role of pie charts is overrated. If you want to show me the 4 preference Trident (Trident) of 5 dentists, and we need to identify the one we dislike, please show us a picture of 5 dentists and make one of them noticeable. That's what we're going to remember.

 

4. Break Some rules

Use color. Use thick lines. Use a circle. Use personal digital collections. Use a large open face. Do not use 3D charts unless you have been authorized (license). You can use animation, but only when you get permission.

If you break too many rules, you may also have counterproductive results. If the chart is difficult to understand or distort, we will no longer believe it.