Designing & Using Designing & Using Charts & GraphsCharts & Graphs Compiled by: Jim LucasModified by: Luke Reese

Overview

After this presentation, you should better understand:– Using the right chart or graph to

present your information– Design principles for charts and

graphs– How to lie and cheat with graphs,

numbers and statistics

Use the right tool

Percentage and Percentage and ProportionProportion

Pie, divided bar chart

RankingsRankings Visual table, bar or line graph

Cumulative Cumulative totalstotals

Layer or stacked graph

Value, time, Value, time, space space relationshipsrelationships

Diagram, chart, or map

Pie charts

Slice represents relative amount of a whole

Slices should be percentages—not absolute values

Good design:Easily distinguished pie slices

(remember black and white)Slice size decreases clockwise

around pieLabel the pie directly

Things to avoid on a pie

Exploding all the slices Inconsistent labeling Legends No labeling

Michigan's Economy

Tourism

Cars

Agriculture

Michigan's Economy

Cars

Tourism

Agriculture

Industry Contribution to Michigan's 2002 Economy

Cars65%

Tourism20%

Agriculture15%

Proportional bar chart

Used to show proportional amounts as a pie chart

Use side scale for more precise measures

Make it wide enough to read If you have multiple bars, put the

least varying factors first

Cattle Loss in Michigan

Disease

Predation

Other

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

% L

os

s

Bar charts

Use to show change in ordinal or nominal data

Usually vertical, but use horizontal if it makes sense

Color code consistently Avoid over emphasizing one line If you use a legend, have it follow

the order of your bars

Cattle Loss

7060

80

2030

510 1015

0

20

40

60

80

100

Michigan Montana Hawaii

State

% L

os

s Disease

Predation

Other

Cattle Loss

70

2010

60

30

10

80

515

0

20

40

60

80

100

Disease Predation Other

Cause

% L

oss Michigan

Montana

Hawaii

Line graphs

Used to show change in trends and continuous data

Vary color or line weight to call attention to specific points

Points on the line are important for precise values

Be consistent with labeling

Line graphs continued

Put warm, bright colored lines on top

Use a scale that accurately reflects the change in information

Currency Exchange Rate (US to NZ) for first day of Month, 2002

1.8

1.9

2

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2002

US

to

NZ

Exc

han

ge

Rat

e

Picture chart or graph

You can use pictures in the place of a bar chart or graph

Follow color and theme conventions

Have the pictures align in the same direction

Vary size not color or shading

Palm Tree Growth

Palm Tree Growth

Tips for diagrams and maps

Follow the culture of the information

Identify relationships on a chart Use color, line weight, shading to

organize information Show only relevant information Avoid gridlines unless needed

A N R E C S S tru c tu re

A d m in is tra tiveA ss is tan t

S ta ff

F acu lty

A ss is tan tC h a ir

S p ec ia lis ts

Tech n o log yM an ag er

In fo rm ation O ffice rs

C om m u n ica tion sM an ag er

D ep artm en tC h a irp erson

Lying with graphsLying with graphs

Altering the y-axis Distorted shapes Uneven start point Using color, lines or other

technique to distort differences Using 3-D effects or distortions

Michigan’s Economy

Tourism

CarsAgriculture

Cattle Loss in Michigan

Disease

Predation

Other

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

% L

os

s

Lying charts and statisticsLying charts and statistics

Percentages and absolute values Numbers are relative Squishy numbers and figures Value labels Error

Absolute values

N

Montana 2000

Michigan 40

Number of cattle deaths Number of cattle deaths attributed to coyotesattributed to coyotes

Absolute values vs. percentages

N % of total deaths

Montana 2000 10%

Michigan 40 20%

Cattle deaths attributed to coyotesCattle deaths attributed to coyotes

Relativity

N % of total deaths

Montana 2000 10%

Michigan 40 20%

Cattle deaths attributed to coyotes over 5 yearsCattle deaths attributed to coyotes over 5 years

Relativity II

N Monetary Loss

% loss of total sales

Montana 2000 500 9%

Michigan 40 100 20%

Cattle deaths attributed to coyotes over 5 yearsCattle deaths attributed to coyotes over 5 years