basic rules of good data design

Szabó Krisztián

Interactive version: https://slides.com/szabokrisztian/bpbi

Szabó Krisztián

Átlátszó

ATLO

Frequently used softwares:

1. Readers

2. Creators

3. Brand

1. Readers

Proximity

Similarity

Enclosure

1912: Gestalt-philosophy – Max Wertheimer

the whole is more than the sum of its parts

The New York Times: A Detailed Picture of What’s in the Democrats’ Climate and Health Bill, August 13

Closure

Continuity

Connection

The Wall Street Journal: Consumers Feel Worse Now Than They Did During Covid Lockdowns, September 4

Preattentive processing

Five guidelines for better data visualisations (J.S.)

1. Show the data
2. Reduce the clutter
3. Integrate the graphics and text
4. Avoid the spaghetti chart
5. Start with gray

2. Creators

1. Show the data

"Not all the data must be shown, but you should highlight the values, that are important to your argument"

444.hu Coronavirus site

2. Reduce the clutter

"The use of unnecessary visual elements distracts your reader from the central data and clutters the page."

Bloomberg: Fear of Rampant Crime Is Derailing New York City’s Recovery, July 29

3. Integrate the graphics and text

"Far too often, we treat the text and annotations as an afterthought, but these elements can be used to explain how to read the content in the graph as well as how to read the graph itself."

a. Remove legend

b. Write the title like a newspaper headline

c. Add explainers (annotations)

4. Avoid the spaghetti chart

"Instead of putting all of the data on one graph, create multiple, smaller versions with variations on the basic data. These are smaller charts that use the same scale, axes, and scope but spread the data across multiple visuals"

5. Start with gray

"You force yourself to be purposeful and strategic in your use of color, labels, and other elements"

3. Brand

Style is just as important as data.

What is your message worth

if your readers cannot understand it?

Thank you for your attention!

szabo.krisztian96@gmail.com