I typically discover uncooked information overwhelming — limitless rows of numbers could be exhausting to decipher. That is why I like information visualization; it transforms advanced figures into clear, intuitive charts that assist me shortly spot traits and perceive the story behind the numbers.
Visible charts and graphs not solely save me valuable time but additionally empower me to make higher choices by contextualizing info in a manner that uncooked information simply can‘t.
On this article, I’ll clarify what information visualization is and share some information visualization greatest practices that will help you get began.
Desk of Contents
What’s information visualization?
Data visualization allows you to organize data in a way that’s both compelling and easy to digest.
It’s about representing data in a visual context, such as a chart or a map, to help anyone viewing it better understand the significance of that data.
How does data visualization work?
Whereas data shared via text can be confusing (not to mention bland), data represented in a visual format can help people extract meaning from that information more quickly and easily.
Data visualization allows you to expose patterns, trends, and correlations that may otherwise go undetected,
Static vs. Interactive Data Visualization
Data visualization can be static or interactive. For centuries, people have been using static data visualization like charts and maps.
Interactive data visualization is a little bit newer: It lets people drill down into the dirty details of these charts and graphs using their computers and mobile devices,and then change which data they see and how it’s processed.
Time Series Visualization
In addition to static and interactive data visualization, you may also hear the term time series visualization. Time series visualization is what it sounds like — visuals that track data, or performance, over a period of time.
This is important because a major reason why people want to focus on data visualization is to show changes in variables over time.
Time Series Data Visualization Examples
There are many ways to use time-series data visualization — you‘ll learn more about these below, but here’s a quick list to give you a better understanding of which visuals are considered time-series visuals.
- Line chart
- Bar chart
- Space chart
- Bullet graph
Featured Information: An Introduction to Data Visualization
Discover ways to apply information visualization greatest practices in your advertising with this free information.
Learn how to Visualize Information: 10 Approaches
1. Line Chart
A line chart is a simple device for visualizing information traits over time. It really works by connecting particular person information factors with a line, which makes it straightforward so that you can see patterns and modifications throughout totally different time intervals.
You should utilize a line chart to trace a single information sequence or examine a number of sequence concurrently. It’s significantly helpful for highlighting traits, recognizing fluctuations, and understanding total progress in your information.
2. Bar Chart
A bar chart makes use of rectangular bars to symbolize values, with the size or top of every bar akin to the amount it represents. Any such chart is particularly helpful while you wish to spotlight variations throughout numerous teams or objects at a look.
Whether or not the bars are displayed vertically or horizontally, a bar chart makes it straightforward to see which classes stand out, serving to you to shortly analyze and talk your information.
For instance, say you’ve got been utilizing Casted to your content material advertising and must report on which medium is performing greatest. You possibly can pull information experiences from the dashboard to visualise the info for key stakeholders.
3. Scatter Chart
A scatter chart is a useful gizmo for analyzing the connection between two variables by plotting particular person information factors on a coordinate aircraft. Every level represents an remark, permitting you to see patterns, correlations, or outliers in your information.
Any such visualization is right for exploring how modifications in a single variable would possibly relate to modifications in one other. It offers you insights into traits and relationships that may not be instantly obvious.
4. Space Chart
An space chart is just like a line chart however fills within the house beneath the road, which helps emphasize the amount of change over time. This visible illustration is beneficial while you wish to present cumulative totals or spotlight how totally different elements contribute to the entire.
By filling within the space beneath the development line, an space chart could make it simpler to identify patterns, examine magnitudes, and perceive the general affect of the info.
5. Map Chart
A map chart shows information on a geographic map, which makes it straightforward to see how values differ throughout areas or places. It makes use of colours, symbols, or shading to symbolize numerous information factors in areas like nations, states, or cities.
Any such chart is particularly useful while you wish to spotlight regional traits or examine information geographically. With a map chart, you’ll be able to shortly determine patterns, clusters, or outliers which are tied to particular areas of the world.
6. Indicator Chart
An indicator chart often reveals a number of massive numerical values, typically accompanied by visible cues like colours or icons (e.g., gauge, ticker), to shortly talk whether or not a metric is assembly its goal or requires consideration.
You should utilize an indicator chart to observe efficiency over time, examine present values in opposition to objectives, or spotlight necessary information factors on a dashboard. Its clear and direct presentation makes it straightforward so that you can instantly perceive the standing of a important measurement with out digging into extra detailed information.
7. Pivot Desk
A pivot desk is a flexible device that helps you shortly summarize and analyze massive information units. It means that you can reorganize uncooked information right into a structured format by grouping and aggregating key values, resembling sums, averages, or counts.
With a pivot desk, you’ll be able to simply examine totally different classes or time intervals and uncover patterns that may not be seen within the authentic information.
8. Bullet Graph
A bullet graph is designed to indicate progress towards a goal in a transparent and space-efficient method. It usually contains a horizontal bar that represents the primary measure, together with markers that point out goal values or efficiency ranges.
Any such chart is particularly helpful on dashboards, the place it gives a fast snapshot of how nicely a metric is performing in opposition to set objectives. By evaluating the size of the bar to the reference markers, you’ll be able to simply assess whether or not a worth is inside an appropriate vary or if it wants consideration.
9. Field Plot
A field plot is a statistical visualization that summarizes a dataset utilizing its quartiles and highlights any outliers. It shows a field that represents the interquartile vary, with a line inside indicating the median and “whiskers” that stretch to indicate the vary of the info.
This chart is beneficial for shortly understanding the central tendency, unfold, and symmetry of your information, in addition to figuring out any uncommon observations.
10. Pie Chart
A pie chart is a round graph divided into slices, the place every slice represents part of the entire. Any such chart is particularly helpful while you wish to present how particular person classes contribute to an total complete. By displaying information in proportional segments, a pie chart means that you can shortly grasp the relative dimension of every class at a look.
Nonetheless, it is handiest when used with a restricted variety of classes to maintain the visualization clear and simple to grasp.
Able to really feel impressed? Let’s check out some nice examples to encourage your information visualization concepts.
Examples of Information Visualization
Beneath are 20 examples of information visualization, break up into two main sections: static and interactive information visualization.
Examples of Static Information Visualization
1. United States Urban Population
This chart goals to indicate the expansion of the agricultural inhabitants versus the city inhabitants in the USA between 1955 and 2024. On the graph, the agricultural inhabitants is inexperienced, whereas the city inhabitants is blue.
What I like: This graph doesn’t make you do any calculations to determine precisely what the agricultural or city populations are. As a substitute, while you hover over a bar, you’ll be able to see the precise determine and share of each populations in that particular 12 months.
2. Global Warming
On this chart, the World Meteorological Group goals to indicate the rise in international imply temperature during the last two centuries. The chart shows information from six international floor temperature datasets used to trace and analyze the typical temperature of the Earth’s floor over time.
Based on all six datasets, 2024 was the warmest 12 months on file, with a worldwide imply floor air temperature of 1.54C.
What I like: The graph represents every dataset with a unique colour so you’ll be able to see when and the way they converge. So, whereas there could also be some slight variations between a minimum of three datasets for the years 1860 by means of 1880, all six agree that the worldwide floor temperature has been rising steadily since 1970 on the identical ranges.
3. The Advent of Generative AI
This pie chart goals to indicate the software program classes that will likely be affected by the rise of generative synthetic intelligence (AI). It additionally reveals the levels to which every classes will likely be disrupted. For instance, content material creation would probably be affected essentially the most by generative AI, whereas system infrastructure can be affected the least.
What I like: I like how straightforward it’s to learn the info on this pie chart. The names of the industries are clearly listed, in addition to their particular person financial values. There’s additionally a colour scheme that permits you to know the extent of disruption/reimagination every class will bear. So, at first look, you recognize what you’re and what it means.
4. Labor Supply Growth in Different Countries
As a substitute of utilizing eight different-colored traces on a single graph to symbolize this information, this chart contains eight distinct charts for every nation. Every chart depicts the precise labor provide development in that nation from 2010 to 2023 after which the projected development from 2023 to 2030.
What I like: If the traces don’t converge sooner or later (like within the international warming chart), a stacked line chart generally is a bit troublesome to learn. I like that McKinsey determined to separate all eight charts and make the info straightforward to learn.
I ought to be aware, although, that the purpose of those charts isn’t to know the precise determine of labor provide. As a substitute, the visualization notes the place labor provide has been rising and can proceed to develop (or not).
5. Workforce of B Corps
This pictogram goals to indicate the inhabitants of the workforce of the B Corps by sector. It divides the workforce into 5 sectors: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Service, Service with Vital Environmental Footprint, and Wholesale/Retail. Then, it makes use of different-colored pictograms to depict the variety of B Corps workforce in every sector.
What I like: Pictograms are a neat and fascinating approach to show information, particularly while you’re capable of hover over every variable and get the precise quantity/worth of the info. For instance, on this chart, hovering over the yellow pictogram (which represents Service) reveals that the inhabitants of the B Corps workforce in that sector is 230,160.
6. Popular Opinion of China Over Time in Select Indo-Pacific Nations
This chart depicts the outcomes of 5 surveys through which 1,000 – 1,700 respondents have been requested, “If the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been compelled to align itself with one of many strategic rivals, which one ought to it select?” The rivals in query are China and the USA, and the surveys have been executed yearly from 2020 to 2024.
What I like: On the high of the chart, there’s an aggregated graph compiling the solutions of all of the member nations of ASEAN, which decided that, as of 2024, they’d somewhat facet with China than with the USA.
Nonetheless, I like that the charts beneath break down how respondents from every member nation responded through the years. Once you hover over the pink or blue bars, you see the chances of people that picked both choice.
7. Target Candlestick Chart
This boxplot chart follows the motion of Goal’s inventory out there over the previous week. Every candlestick represents sure values that present merchants/buyers when it’s okay to enter or exit the market to maximise earnings and reduce loss.
What I like: Newbie merchants/buyers (like me, for instance) may not have the ability to have a look at the candlestick patterns and instantly know what they imply. So, I recognize that hovering over every candlestick reveals necessary values like Open, Excessive, Low, Shut, and Quantity, which might inform my buying and selling choices.
9. Popularity of Basketball and Football in the United States
In 2024, Statista surveyed 17,639 American adults who adopted sports activities and requested them which one they adopted: American soccer, basketball, or each. These adults ranged from 18-64 years previous, so Statista broke them up into 5 classes based mostly on age and plotted their solutions on this bar chart.
What I like: I like how every variable was represented with two extremely contrasting colours and the way the chances are put atop every bar. This ensures that, at first look, you’ll be able to glean info from the chart. For instance, I instantly know that People between the ages of 35 and 44 comply with American soccer greater than they do basketball.
Examples of Interactive Information Visualization
10. Private Equity Interest in Mining
This infographic-like chart reveals the historical past of personal fairness’s curiosity in mining. It begins with a breakdown of the ten largest mining-focused funds to have closed traditionally, with the colours of the tree stumps signifying the places of the funds (e.g., North America, Asia-Pacific, and multi-regional).
It’s a extremely lengthy graph (solely half of it’s within the screenshot above), and as you scroll, the knowledge, graphics, numbers, and so on., slide onto/seem on the web page.
What I like: This interactive chart is made up of various sorts of graphs, together with pictograms and bar graphs. I like how the chart compiled all this information in an enticing and reader-friendly method.
11. How Different Nations Approach Governance
There’s no particular reply to the query of what position the federal government ought to play in on a regular basis folks’s lives. Nonetheless, this interactive visualization permits you to discover how totally different nations strategy governance right this moment.
It measures a number of indicators, together with the rule of legislation, management of corruption, judicial effectiveness rating, authorities integrity rating, property rights rating, tax burden rating, total financial freedom rating, monetary freedom, and life expectancy, amongst others.
What I like: I like how in-depth this interactive visualization is. Not solely does it present you the scores of various nations based mostly on one of many a number of indicators it measures for, however it additionally has totally different chart varieties that will help you uncover traits and interpret the mountain of knowledge higher.
For instance, if I wish to see the small print of Malaysia’s management of corruption, I may click on on it and get details about Malaysia’s Gross Home Product (GDP), GDP development, well being expenditure charge, employment charge, authorities spending rating, faculty life expectancy, and extra.
12. NASA’s Eclipse Explorer
NASA created this interactive map to assist individuals who’d prefer to witness a photo voltaic eclipse know when one will likely be taking place of their location. On the map, you’ll be able to search for your metropolis, zoom out and in of the map, and get info on when the subsequent eclipse is estimated to occur.
What I like: I like that the knowledge is spelled out for folks, however they’re nonetheless capable of dictate what they’re searching for. For instance, I looked for Delaware, Ohio on the map. It instantly introduced up details about the subsequent eclipse to occur within the metropolis, what time it should occur, how lengthy complete protection will final, and even the estimated temperature of that day.
13. North Korea’s Trash Balloons Explained
For this interactive visualization, Reuters takes the storytelling route to clarify the balloons North Korea launched into South Korea final 12 months. The visualization contains principally purple balloons with different baggage connected to the ends, symbolizing the luggage of trash/manure that North Korea connected to the ends of the balloons it launched into South Korea.
What I like: This visualization takes you on a journey. Once you first scroll, there are tons of balloons to present you an concept of the dimensions of the balloon launches. Then, the variety of balloons will likely be lowered relative to the batches that North Korea despatched.
I like how Reuters accompanies every wave of balloons with some details about the dates North Korea despatched it and what number of balloons it despatched.
14. Parallel Lives
This Parallel Lives interactive visualization is a database of outstanding historic figures. These figures are grouped into three classes based mostly on their professions and affect: Tradition, Discovery/Science, and Management.
This graph begins at 3,345 BC, and as you scroll down the graph (and down the years), you see the names of outstanding individuals who existed on the identical time throughout these classes. For instance, in 486 BC, Euripides, Socrates, and Pericles have been all alive, though they have been 12, 2, and 26 years previous, respectively.
What I like: I like how this visualization means that you can contextualize the lives of those figures in relation to 1 one other. It gives their names, professions, and ages, which provides you a broad have a look at what life would possibly’ve been like at the moment, particularly if stated figures existed in several elements of the world.
15. The Wealth Disparity Gap
The bigger a quantity is, the tougher it turns into to mentally image and perceive simply how massive it’s. So, whereas most individuals know the distinction between $100 and $1,000, lots of people (myself included) can’t actually image $1 billion, not to mention $320 billion (Elon Musk’s web value).
With this interactive visualization, Jason Zhang (the creator) makes use of acquainted objects to assist of us perceive the rising wealth disparity and its societal implications.
What I like: Similar to the Reuters visualization, I like how Jason used objects folks see pretty typically to assist folks contextualize wealth.
For instance, this visualization explains that $320 billion is identical as stacking checks of $1 million every atop one another until they attain the peak of a 10-story constructing. It additionally notes that even in the event you (and I) make $1 million per hour (I want!), it’ll nonetheless take over 100 years to make as a lot cash as Elon Musk.
That description alone makes it straightforward for me to grasp the wealth disparity hole between the higher 1% and the remainder of us.
16. Is the Love Song Dying?
The creators of this enjoyable and insightful visualization wished to discover the concept that love songs are dying. To do this, it analyzed all 5,100 Billboard High 10 hits from 1958 to 2023 and remoted the love songs from the bunch.
The visualization then put these love songs in several classes (e.g., Serenades, Heartache, Pursuit, It’s Sophisticated, and so on.) and plotted them on a chart to see in the event that they’ve elevated or declined through the years.
What I like: This information visualization is available in 25 slides, and I like how the creators, David Mora and Michelle Jia, created a story for every slide to clarify the totally different sorts of affection songs and the evolution of this style during the last 5-6 a long time.
17. Most Popular Thanksgiving Pies Across the U.S.
Many American households get pleasure from pie on Thanksgiving, however the flavors they select range considerably throughout totally different states. Utilizing the Google Tendencies information from October 26 to November 26, 2024, Sherwood Information created an interactive choropleth map exhibiting essentially the most googled pie varieties by state.
What I like: Due to the colours, I can instantly inform that pumpkin pie dominated the Google searches in most American States. Nonetheless, the map goes on to offer extra info once I click on on a particular state.
So, whereas pumpkin pie was the most well-liked in California (53%), the map additionally reveals that 33% of households searched “apple pie” and 14% searched “pecan pie.”
18. Sitters and Standers
Over the past 5 a long time, work in America has develop into far much less bodily. Farm work and manufacturing unit work that require standing are more and more being changed by desk jobs, that are sedentary.
The Pudding developed this interactive scatter plot that reveals the divide between occupations the place employees usually stand and people the place they usually sit in relation to your personal job (whether or not you sit or stand).
Every sq. represents a particular occupation, with every particular person icon inside it representing 50,000 People in that position. The occupations are organized horizontally, with “sitter” jobs on the left and “stander” jobs on the precise.
What I like: I like how this interactive scatter plot means that you can zoom out and in to discover the roles in the midst of this divide. It additionally plots for various job attributes, resembling the flexibility to decide on whether or not to take a seat or stand, schooling ranges, revenue, alternatives to pause work, and publicity to environmental parts.
19. Iran and South China Sea Oil Trade
The world’s largest gathering level for darkish fleet tankers is forty miles east of the Malaysian peninsula. Right here, these tankers, which function with out insurance coverage, switch tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil to China.
The charts above are a results of Bloomberg analyzing 5 years of satellite tv for pc imagery of this area to disclose the fast development of this shadowy oil commerce.
What I like: I like how these charts clearly present the rise in side-by-side ships within the area from 2020 to 2024, particularly with the precise percentages written beneath every chart.
Slightly than plot this info on a line or bar chart, Bloomberg used a scatter plot to assist viewers visualize the areas the place these ships appeared annually. This manner, you’ll be able to see that between 2020 and 2024, the ships grew by over 100% and have become extra concentrated.
20. Tracing Microplastics
About 170 trillion microplastics are floating on this planet’s oceans, posing severe threats to marine life, aquatic ecosystems, and our meals chain.
To offer readers an concept of how harmful these microplastics are, The Strait Instances makes use of an interactive storytelling expertise to discover the Indian Ocean Rubbish Patch, the place microplastic concentrations can attain over a million particles per sq km.
What I like: I like how methodically this “scrollytelling” expertise breaks down the results of microplastics in oceans and why folks ought to care extra about it. It takes you on a journey from South Asia to East Africa, illustrating how textile microfibers from washing machines enter these rubbish patches and the results of this environmental hazard.
21. PIN Code Popularity
Many individuals depend on four-digit PINS to unlock their telephones, entry their financial institution accounts, and confirm their digital identities. But, many individuals subconsciously select extremely predictable codes that scammers can guess.
ABC Information analyzed tens of millions of PINs uncovered in information breaches and created this interactive heatmap chart to indicate how widespread and weak sure PIN mixtures are. The brighter the sq. (shiny inexperienced), the extra weak that quantity is.
For instance, the mix 1234 makes up practically 1 in 10 of the tens of millions of PINs ABC Information analyzed.
What I like: I like how this heatmap isn’t only a chart; it’s a mindreader of types. Past exposing weak PIN mixtures, it goes into why persons are probably to decide on these numbers. Once you’re conscious of how excessive your likelihood is of being hacked while you use these numbers, you’re extra prone to keep away from them.
The great examples of information visualization above are nice to reference whilst you develop your strategy. Nonetheless, it‘s additionally necessary to think about the much less efficient methods to go about information visualization so you recognize what to keep away from — so, let’s cowl some unhealthy examples subsequent.
Dangerous Information Visualization Examples
There are numerous methods through which information visualization can go unsuitable.
For example, have a look at this data visualization example of MLS salaries in 2013. The sheer quantity of knowledge on this chart makes it troublesome to learn.
Moreover, the dimensions of the variables requires viewers members to zoom in considerably to learn the info. A number of the packing containers which are getting used to depict information look like vertical whereas most are horizontal — this additionally makes the knowledge complicated to learn.
Once you embrace a number of utterly totally different variables inside a single visible, it additionally turns into difficult for viewers members to grasp — the next chart is an instance of this.
One thing else you‘ll wish to do is ensure you’re not making your visible extra difficult than it must be. For instance, this chart has various variables which are depicted by 3D bars. This graph would not should be 3D — actually, it merely makes the knowledge extra obscure and examine.
Lastly, let’s overview some information visualization instruments to assist make this course of easier.
Information Visualization Instruments
There are a selection of information visualization assets out there right this moment however the next record is right here to assist get you began. Do not be afraid to check out a number of choices to find out which choice fits your wants (and information) greatest.
1. HubSpot
HubSpot’s Dashboard and Reporting Software is designed to carry all of your important enterprise information into one centralized platform. It means that you can create customized dashboards and experiences that replicate your advertising, gross sales, and repair efficiency.
With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, you’ll be able to simply construct visualizations that spotlight key metrics, observe marketing campaign progress, and monitor buyer interactions. The device additionally integrates seamlessly with different information sources to make sure that all of your necessary info is well accessible in a single place.
2. Tableau Desktop
Tableau Desktop is a strong information visualization device that helps you join to numerous information sources and create interactive dashboards with ease. There are easy-to-make maps, indicators, and lots of extra visuals, in addition to simple analytics that assist you to derive actionable info from calculations, reference traces, and forecasts on account of your visuals.
With built-in analytics options and assist for a variety of information connectors, Tableau Desktop simplifies the method of exploring and sharing your information.
3. Databox
Databox is designed to carry all of your information sources collectively into one centralized dashboard. There are over 100 integrations that may aid you shortly and simply create visuals with pre-built dashboards and experiences. You can even create customized metrics and monitor your KPIs in real-time.
Databox then means that you can connect with Google Sheets or an SQL database, or you’ll be able to push it through API to view and share your information.
4. Google Charts
Google Charts is a free device from Google that permits you to create all kinds of interactive charts to your web site or internet app. It makes use of HTML5 and SVG know-how to render high-quality visuals that work throughout totally different gadgets and browsers. The device gives a easy API that makes it straightforward to combine customized charts into your tasks.
With intensive documentation and lots of chart varieties out there—from line charts and bar charts to extra advanced maps and gauges—Google Charts gives versatile customization choices to satisfy your particular information visualization wants.
Develop Higher With Information Visualization
Engaged on this piece has made me notice that information visualization isn’t nearly making information look interesting—it’s a strong device that helps me (and also you, hopefully) shortly determine, focus on, and act on insights.
By experimenting with numerous visualization instruments and drawing inspiration from each profitable examples and customary pitfalls, you’ll be able to rework advanced information into clear, actionable info to your viewers.
Editor’s Observe: This put up was initially revealed in March 2015 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
