What is Data Visualisation?

Data visualisation is the practice of presenting data graphically. The presentation of data in a visual way ultimately makes it simpler for the viewer to understand the data and can point to certain trends etc.

What Are the Main Goals of Data Visualisation?

Data visualisations are useful for highlighting trends, patterns and correlations in data. Data visualisation is an effective decision-making tool that enables key individuals to make well-informed decisions backed by data. Data visualisations make it easier to make sense of large datasets and combine different datasets from various sources.It’s an effective way of using storytelling to communicate data-backed ideas. Data visualisations need to hold the target audience’s attention while being easy to understand and interpret. Data visualisations make it easier to monitor important metrics and keep an eye on key performance indicators (KPIs). (The New Stack)

Best Practices for Data Visualisation

  1. Have a Goal in Mind - asses the data you have at hand and think about the insights you would like to draw from them
  2. Choose the Right Visualisation Tool - There are a number of programmes and tools that can help with presenting data in a mathematically correct way
  3. Choose the Right Type of Visualisation - There are many forms of data visualisations and it is important to choose the right form to provide the best insight into the data

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  1. Use Appropriate Labels and Titles - These are key to understanding any graph and should be carefully considered.
  2. Choose Colours Carefully - It is important to choose colours that are engaging to the user while also following legibility and accessibility guidelines.
  3. Avoiding Unnecessary Visual Elements - While illustrations can be a go-to to add visual interest to any interface, it does not lend itself well to many data visualisations. Less is more!

The utility of data visualisation can be divided into three main goals: to explore, to monitor, and to explain. While some visualisations can span more than one of these, most focus on a single goal.

A Comprehensive List of Data Visualisations

Common general types of data visualisation: