CraftBeginner35 min read
2. Encode without lying
Data Visualization Basics · 8 pages source format
Start axes at zero for bars. Don’t dual-axis without labeling. Color is for meaning, not decoration.
What you'll learn
- Axes
- Color
- Annotation
Honest axes
Truncated bar axes exaggerate differences. Dual axes confuse. Prefer small multiples.
Do this now
Find one chart online and note how it could mislead.
Pro tip. Put the insight in a one-line annotation.
Clear?
Less ink, more signal
Drop gridlines you don’t need. Label directly. Sort bars by value.
Do this now
Redesign one busy chart on paper in 5 minutes.
Clear?
