Effective Use of Tables and Charts

Clear communication of research findings is one of the most overlooked skills in UX and human factors work. It’s one thing to run a solid study or analyze meaningful data. It’s another to present that information in a way that your audience actually understands - and cares about. The truth is, most charts fall short. They either say too much, trying to squeeze in every detail, or they say too little and leave people wondering what they’re supposed to take away. In both cases, the message gets lost. And when you're working with stakeholders, product teams, or executives, that disconnect can mean missed opportunities or poor decisions. Drawing from some of the key ideas in Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, I’ve been focusing more on what it takes to make a chart actually work. It starts with thinking less like an analyst and more like a communicator. One small but powerful shift is in how we title our visuals. A label like “Sales by Month” doesn’t help much. But a title like “Sales Dropped Sharply After Q2 Campaign” points people directly to the story. That’s the difference between describing data and communicating an insight. Another important piece is designing visuals that prioritize clarity. Not every chart needs five colors or a complex legend. In fact, color works best when it’s used sparingly, to highlight what matters. Likewise, charts packed with gridlines, borders, and extra labels often feel more technical than informative. Simplifying them not only improves readability - it also sharpens the message. It also helps to think ahead to the question your visual is answering. Is it showing change? Comparison? A trend? Knowing that upfront lets you choose the right format, the right focus, and the right amount of detail. In the examples I’ve shared here, you’ll see some common before-and-after chart revisions that demonstrate these ideas in action. They’re simple changes, but they make a real difference. These techniques apply across many research workflows - from usability tests and survey reports to concept feedback and final presentations. If your chart needs a walkthrough to make sense, it’s probably not working as well as it could. These small adjustments are about helping people see what’s important and understand what it means - without needing a data dictionary or a deep dive.

Don’t let your visuals kill your insights. These 4 graph elements do exactly that. If it looks good but communicates nothing, It’s decoration - not data. Clarity > aesthetics. Here are 4 things to avoid - and what to do instead: 1. Pie Charts Hard to compare angles. Can’t judge how much bigger one slice is than another. Instead: - Use a horizontal bar chart (clear baseline) - Sort values to highlight what matters 2. Donut Charts Arc lengths are even harder to read than pie slices. Instead: - Use a horizontal bar chart (clear baseline) - Make comparisons easy and instant 3. Dual Y-Axis Charts Confusing. Readers don’t know which data belongs to which axis. Instead: - Label the second dataset directly - Or split the chart and share a common x-axis 4. Axis + Data Labels Repeating values adds clutter without insight. Instead: - Show the axis or label the data - not both - Remove gridlines to reduce noise Most charts are forgettable. Clear ones get people to act. 💬 Drop a comment - What’s one design habit you’ve had to unlearn? 👇 ♻️ Follow Mike Reynoso for more tips on clear, actionable BI communication. 🔁 Reshare to help others turn cluttered charts into meaningful insight. 📌 Save this post — better data storytelling starts with better visuals.

One of the biggest challenges in data visualization is deciding 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 chart to use for your data. Here’s a breakdown to guide you through choosing the perfect chart to fit your data’s story: 🟦 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 If you’re comparing different categories, consider these options: - Embedded Charts – Ideal for comparing across 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, giving you a comprehensive view of your data. - Bar Charts – Best for fewer categories where you want a clear, side-by-side comparison. - Spider Charts – Great for showing multivariate data across a few categories; perfect for visualizing strengths and weaknesses in radar-style. 📈 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 When tracking changes or trends over time, pick these charts based on your data structure: - Line Charts – Effective for showing trends across 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 over time. Line charts give a sense of continuity. - Vertical Bar Charts – Useful for tracking data over fewer categories, especially when visualizing individual data points within a time frame.    🟩 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 To reveal correlations or relationships between variables: - Scatterplot – Best for displaying the relationship between 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴. Perfect for exploring potential patterns and correlations. - Bubble Chart – A go-to choice for three or more variables, giving you an extra dimension for analysis. 🟨 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 Understanding data distribution is essential for statistical analysis. Use these to visualize distribution effectively: - Histogram – Best for a 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 with a few data points, ideal for showing the frequency distribution within a dataset. - Line Histogram – Works well when there are many data points to assess distribution over a range. - Scatterplot – Can also illustrate distribution across two variables, especially for seeing clusters or outliers. 🟪 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 Show parts of a whole and breakdowns with these: - Tree Map – Ideal for illustrating hierarchical structures or showing the composition of categories as part of a total. - Waterfall Chart – Perfect for showing how individual elements contribute to a cumulative total, with additions and subtractions clearly represented. - Pie Chart – Suitable when you need to show a single share of the total; use sparingly for clarity. - Stacked Bar Chart & Area Chart – Both work well for visualizing composition over time, whether you’re tracking a few or many periods. 💡 Key Takeaways - Comparing across categories? Go for bar charts, embedded charts, or spider charts. - Tracking trends over time? Line or bar charts help capture time-based patterns. - Revealing relationships? Scatter and bubble charts make variable correlations clear. - Exploring distribution? Histograms or scatter plots can showcase data spread. - Showing composition? Use tree maps, waterfall charts, or pie charts for parts of a whole.

Most Microsoft Excel users focus on formulas. If you want to stand out, focus on thinking. Here are 2 data analysis skills that separate true data pros from common spreadsheet users: 1) Learn time series analysis. Most business data is time-based: Sales by month Churn by quarter Web traffic by day While many use Excel line charts, they don't know how to read them to see: Trends Variability Cycles Rate of change Exception Line charts (done right). Use them to answer questions like: Is revenue trending up or flatlining? Are there seasonal spikes in demand? Did our A/B test actually move the needle? Pro tip: Add a 7-day or 30-day moving average to smooth out noise. 2) Learn categorical analysis. Some of the most powerful insights come from comparing categories: Ad channels Product lines Customer segments Support ticket types Most people don't realize the full power of Excel bar charts. But you will. The true power of bar charts in Excel comes from using multiple columns simultaneously. Humans are visual pattern recognition machines. Using 3, 4, or 5 columns simultaneously allows for robust visual analysis. That's the kind of power you won't get from staring at a PivotTable. AND... The best way to create these visualizations is from PivotTables. Excel's PivotCharts are one of my go-to ways to analyze data. I mostly use PivotTables to feed my PivotCharts. You should, too.

Choosing the Right Chart Type Selecting the appropriate chart can make or break your data storytelling. Here's a quick guide to help you choose the perfect visualization: ↳ 𝐁𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬: Perfect for comparing quantities across categories (Think: regional sales comparison) ↳ 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬: Ideal for showing trends and changes over time (Example: monthly website traffic) ↳ 𝐏𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬: Best for showing parts of a whole as percentages (Use case: market share breakdown) ↳ 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬: Great for showing the distribution of continuous data (Like salary ranges across your organization) ↳ 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬: Essential for exploring relationships between variables (Perfect for marketing spend vs. sales analysis) ↳ 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐬: Excellent for showing data density with color variation (Think: website traffic patterns by hour/day) ↳ 𝐁𝐨𝐱 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬: Invaluable for displaying data variability and outliers (Great for analyzing performance metrics) ↳ 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬: Shows cumulative totals over time (Example: sales growth across product lines) ↳ 𝐁𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬: Powerful for displaying three dimensions of data (Combines size, position, and grouping) 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Always consider your audience and the story you want to tell when choosing your visualization type. What else would you add? #datavisualization #dataanalytics

Hi, Data Analysts! Choosing the right chart is critical. The right chart makes you incredibly effective and builds trust with your stakeholders. Choosing the right chart provides: 1. Clarity: Different charts are designed to highlight different types of relationships and patterns in data. Select the appropriate chart to ensure the intended message is transparent. For example, line charts are ideal for showing trends over time, while pie charts are better for displaying part-to-whole relationships. 2. Clear Decision-Making: The right chart helps decision-makers grasp complex information quickly and accurately. This leads to better, more informed decisions. A properly designed dashboard with the right mix of charts enables your leaders to monitor key performance indicators effectively. 3. Audience Engagement: Visual storytelling with data engages and persuades. An audience is more likely to understand and remember information presented in an interesting and accessible way. 4. Accuracy: The wrong chart type leads to a false understanding of the data. Matching the chart type to the data's characteristics is essential to prevent misinterpretation. Using a bar chart instead of a scatter plot for correlation analysis will obscure the strength and direction of the relationship between variables. 5. Cognitive Efficiency: The right chart conveys more information in less space. This is important in environments with limited time and space, such as executive briefings or quick reviews of performance data. 6. Credibility: Professionalism enhances your credibility. Accurate and appropriate visualizations demonstrate understanding of the data and its implications, building trust with your audience. 7. Exploration: During the analysis phase, the right charts can help the analyst uncover insights, detect outliers, patterns, or trends, and understand the data's story. This exploratory process is a fundamental step in data analysis. Want to learn more? Follow: ➡️ Aurélien Vautier ➡️ Andy Kriebel ➡️ Nick Desbarats ➡️ Dawn Harrington ➡️ Brent Dykes Happy Learning! #data #dataanalytics #datavisualization

When working on data visualization, it’s crucial to adhere to certain principles to ensure that the visualizations are effective and meaningful. Here are some important principles to consider: ✅ Define a Clear Purpose: Before creating a data visualization, defining a clear purpose will make the process easier and more useful, preventing the creation of visuals that are not required. ✅ Know the Audience: We should identify what information audience already has and what additional information can our charts provide and focusing mostly on that missing info to include in the charts --> Who will be using this data? --> What are their objectives? --> How will they interact with the data? --> What business questions do users need answered? ✅ Keep it Simple: Simplicity allows us to visually derive conclusions from data more easily. Ineffective visualizations (such as lengthy tables or complex charts) require more conscious thought to analyze information, slowing viewers down and reducing impact. ✅ Color Usage: Color is a great way to focus your viewer’s attention. When using color in data visualizations, you need to think about both hue (what color something is) and intensity (how saturated the color is). ✅ Use the Right Chart Type: The primary purpose of data visualization is to help viewers discover actionable insights. When selecting a chart type, you need to ask yourself: --> What story are you trying to tell? --> Who is your data visualization for, and what are their priorities? --> What problem are you trying to solve? --> What type of data do you have? (For instance, do you have categories of data? If so, how many categories?) ✅ Highlight the Important Information: Data visualizations tell a story. By highlighting the most crucial information first, viewers can see what the story is all about. By following these principles, you can create data visualizations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also informative and insightful. #dataanalyst #datavisualization