basic data design 2

Graphic pitfalls

Distorsions

Axis tricks

3D pseudo perspectives

Pie charts

Radial bar charts

Data/Ink ratio

Size

Chartjunk

Distorsion/Graphic manipulation

original

horizontal distorsion

vertical distorsion

Axis tricks

correct

misleading

In most of the cases we start the axis "y" at zero.

But there are cases when cutting the axis is necessary.

Axis tricks

Axis tricks

Daily average temperature in Budapest 1901–

Axis tricks

Weekly

Axis tricks

Monthly

Axis tricks

Quarterly

Axis tricks

Annual

Axis tricks

Annual

Axis tricks

Annual difference - 1901 is the reference

3D pseudo perspectives

correct

misleading

3D pseudo perspectives

bad

correct

?

?

Pie charts

Pie charts

Pie charts

Pie charts

Difficult to compare

Pie charts

A little bit easier to compare

It there any other ways to show this data?

Pie charts

Pie charts

Pie charts

Radial bar charts

Radial bar charts

misleading

Radial bar charts

Radial bar charts

Jastraw-effect

which is the larger?

Size

=

2x

Radius

=

2x

Data/Ink ratio

shading

border

contour

font type

prison grid

background image

Changes in oil prices/gallon

Data/Ink ratio

Edward Tufte's principles

Changes in oil prices/gallon

Minimalism can be a bad choice too

Data/Ink ratio

Chartoons/Chartjunks

Same data

X

y

title

Mapping

you want to show people not area!

Source: Karim Douieb Twitter

proportional symbol map

Source: NYT

populated area map

Source: Washington Post

area distorted by population/votes

Source: WSJ

equal area map

Basic data design 2

By Attila Bátorfy