Kategorie: Charts

About our chart series

The topics covered in this chart series explore the types of charts used in data visualization and how they can help you better understand data patterns. The articles cover the pros and cons of various charts such as area charts, pie charts, heat maps, bubble charts, Sankey charts, boxplots, Gantt charts, line charts, and bar charts. Each article explains the purpose of the chart, how to interpret it, and when to use it. These articles provide valuable information for data analysts, project managers, and anyone who wants to visualize data in a more meaningful way.

We are happy to share our experience, feel free to ask us about dashboards and charts!

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Understanding Data Patterns with Area Charts

Introduction

Area charts are a type of data visualization that display quantitative data over time or across categories. They are similar to line charts, but with the area beneath the line filled in with color or shading to create a solid shape.

Area charts are useful for showing trends in data, especially when comparing multiple data sets. They can also be used to emphasize the magnitude of changes in data over time or across categories. However, they can be less precise than other types of charts, especially when the data sets overlap.

When creating an area chart, it’s important to choose appropriate colors and shading to ensure that the chart is easy to read and interpret. It’s also important to label the axes clearly and provide a legend to help viewers understand the data being presented.

The main difference between area charts and line charts is that in area charts, the area beneath the line is filled in with color or shading to create a solid shape, while in line charts, only the line representing the data is displayed.

Here are some key differences between area charts and line charts:

  1. Emphasis: Area charts place more emphasis on the magnitude of changes in data over time or across categories, while line charts focus more on the trends and patterns in the data.
  2. Precision: Line charts tend to be more precise than area charts because they only display the line representing the data without the added shading or color that may obscure or overlap data points.
  3. Data density: Line charts are better suited for displaying large data sets or data with many categories, while area charts may become difficult to interpret when multiple data sets overlap or when there are too many categories.
  4. Interpretation: Line charts are easier to interpret for comparisons and relationships between multiple data sets, while area charts are better for showing how a single data set changes over time or across categories.

Ultimately, the choice between an area chart and a line chart depends on the specific data being presented and the intended message or insights to be conveyed.

Use-Cases for area-charts:

  1. Stock Market Performance: An area chart can be used to show the performance of a stock market index, such as the S&P 500, over time. The chart would display the index value on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. The area beneath the line would be filled in with color or shading to show the magnitude of changes in the index value.
  2. Website Traffic: An area chart can be used to show the traffic to a website over time. The chart would display the number of page views on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. The area beneath the line would be filled in with color or shading to show the level of traffic.
  3. Sales by Product Category: An area chart can be used to show sales by product category over time. The chart would display the sales amount on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. The area beneath each line, representing each product category, would be filled in with a different color or shading to differentiate between the categories.
  4. Climate Data: An area chart can be used to show changes in climate data, such as temperature or precipitation, over time. The chart would display the data on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis. The area beneath the line would be filled in with color or shading to show the magnitude of changes in the data.

Create an Area Chart (microstrategy.com)

Why I’ll Never Use Pie Charts Again

Introduction

If you’re like me, you’ve probably used pie charts in the past to visualize data. But after a while, I started to realize that pie charts weren’t the best way to present information. They can be difficult to read, hard to compare, and just plain ugly. That’s why I’ll never use pie charts again. Instead, I’ll be using more modern, Human-friendly alternatives like bar graphs, line graphs, and scatter plots. These options are much easier to read, easier to compare, and can be customized to look more visually appealing. So if you’re looking for a better way to present data, ditch the pie charts and try something other.

Excerpt

I used to think pie charts were the best way to display data, but after trying them out I realized they can be misleading. They don’t always show the full picture, and it’s hard to compare values. So, I’m done with pie charts – I’m sticking to bar graphs from now on.

Create a Pie or Ring Chart (microstrategy.com)

How Heat Maps Can Help You Find the Big Fish in Your Data Pond

A heat map is a graphical representation of data in which different values are represented by different colors. In a BI dashboard, a heat map can be used to visualize patterns and trends in large datasets, making it easier for users to quickly identify areas of interest and focus their attention where it’s needed most.

Some use-cases for heat maps in BI dashboards include:

  1. Sales Analysis: A heat map can be used to show the distribution of sales across different regions or territories. This can help sales teams identify areas where they need to focus their efforts in order to improve performance.
  2. Customer Behavior Analysis: A heat map can be used to show the areas of a website or application where users are spending the most time. This can help designers and product managers identify areas of the user experience that need improvement.
  3. Risk Management: A heat map can be used to visualize potential risks and their likelihood of occurrence. This can help organizations identify and prioritize risks in order to develop effective risk management strategies.

Some good practices for using heat maps in BI dashboards include:

  1. Keep it Simple: Heat maps can quickly become overwhelming if there are too many data points or if the colors are too bright or contrasting. Stick to a simple color scheme and limit the number of data points in order to keep the visualization clear and easy to read.
  2. Use Color Effectively: Choose colors that are easy to differentiate and that have meaning. For example, green might represent positive values, while red might represent negative values. Make sure that the color scheme is intuitive and easy to understand.
  3. Provide Context: Heat maps are most useful when they are accompanied by other data or visualizations that provide context. For example, a heat map showing sales by region might be more useful if it’s also accompanied by a chart showing the overall sales trends over time.

Introduction to Heat Maps (microstrategy.com)

Exploring the Power of Bubble Charts with Hans Rosling

Introduction

If you’re looking to explore the power of bubble charts, Hans Rosling is the man to turn to. A Swedish statistician and public health professor, Rosling is known for his groundbreaking work in data visualization. He was the first to use bubble charts to illustrate the relationship between health and wealth in the world. Through his work, Rosling has been able to make complex data more accessible and understandable. With his help, you can learn how to create your own bubble charts and use them to explore the power of data visualization.

Hans Rosling was a Swedish physician, statistician, and public speaker who was known for his creative use of data visualization to explain complex global issues. He was a pioneer in the use of bubble charts to illustrate data in a more visually appealing way. Bubble charts are a type of chart that uses circles to represent data points, with the size of the circle representing the magnitude of the data point.

https://youtu.be/jbkSRLYSojo

Rosling used bubble charts to show the progress of countries over time, such as the change in life expectancy and the GDP of countries. He used this type of chart to demonstrate how the world has changed and to show the differences between countries. His work has been credited with helping to bring data visualization to the mainstream and to make it more accessible to the public. Rosling’s work has been an inspiration to many, and his use of bubble charts has been adopted by many other data visualizers. His work has helped to make data more accessible and easier to understand, and has been a great contribution to the field of data visualization. His legacy will continue to inspire and inform data visualizers for years to come.

Excerpt

I recently watched Hans Rosling’s TED Talk on the power of bubble charts. It was amazing to see how he used data to tell a story and how he used visuals to make it easier to understand. I’m inspired to use bubble charts to explore data in my own work.

Voting behavior with Sankey diagrams

Sankey diagrams can be useful in analyzing voter behavior in elections. They can visually represent the flow of voters between different parties or candidates, as well as the factors that influence their decision-making.

For example, a Sankey diagram could show how many voters switched from one party to another between two elections, and what issues or events may have influenced their decision. It could also show how many voters abstained from voting altogether or how many new voters entered the electorate.

By analyzing the flow of voters through a Sankey diagram, political analysts can gain insights into the dynamics of an election and better understand the factors that determine electoral outcomes. They can also use Sankey diagrams to compare different elections or to track changes in voter behavior over time.

Overall, Sankey diagrams can be a valuable tool for anyone interested in understanding the complex and ever-changing landscape of electoral politics.

d3.js example

Create a Sankey Diagram Visualization (microstrategy.com)

Making Sense of Box Plots: A Beginner’s Guide to Interpreting Data

Introduction

Are you feeling overwhelmed by box plots? If so, you’re not alone! Interpreting data can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With this beginner’s guide to making sense of box plots, you’ll be able to make sense of data in no time. This guide will provide you with the tools you need to understand box plots and interpret data quickly and easily. So don’t worry, you’ll be a box plot pro in no time!

Making sense of box plots can be a daunting task for beginners. But with a little bit of practice, you can learn to interpret data quickly and accurately.

Box plots are a great way to visualize data, and can help you make decisions about how to proceed with your project.

The first step is to understand the different components of a box plot. The box itself represents the middle 50% of the data, while the whiskers represent the rest of the data. The line in the middle of the box is the median, which is the middle value of the data set. The dots outside the box are outliers, which are values that are significantly higher or lower than the rest of the data.  Once you understand the components of a box plot, you can start to interpret the data.

To interpret a box plot, look at the size of the box and the position of the median. If the box is large, it means that the data is spread out, and if the median is close to the center of the box, it means that the data is evenly. If the box small and the median close to one side, it means that the data is clustered around one value.

You can also look at the outliers to see if there are any extreme values that could be affecting the data. With a little practice, you’ll be able to make sense of box plots quickly and accurately.

Introduction to Box Plot Visualizations (microstrategy.com)

Box plots in JavaScript (plotly.com)

Gantt Charts: A Must-Have Tool for Every Project Manager

Introduction

As a project manager, I know how important it is to stay organized and on top of things. Gantt charts are a must-have tool for any project manager who wants to keep their projects running smoothly. Gantt charts provide a visual representation of a project timeline, making it easy to see which tasks need to be completed and when. With Gantt charts, you can easily identify potential problems and make adjustments to ensure your project is completed on time and within budget. Plus, Gantt charts are easy to use and don’t require any special software or training. So if you’re looking for a simple yet effective way to manage your projects, Gantt charts are the way to go.

Gantt charts are an essential tool for every project manager. They provide a visual representation of the timeline of a project, allowing project managers to easily track progress and identify any potential issues. With a Gantt chart, project managers can quickly see what tasks need to be completed and when, and can easily adjust the timeline as needed.

Gantt charts are also great for keeping stakeholders informed about the progress of a project. They provide a clear picture of the timeline, which makes it easy for stakeholders to understand where the project is at and what needs to be done. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the project is running smoothly.

Overall, Gantt charts are an invaluable tool for project managers. They provide a clear and concise timeline of the project, making it easy to track progress and identify any potential issues. They also help to keep stakeholders informed, which is essential for successful project management. If you’re a project manager, Gantt charts are a must-have tool for your toolbox.

Excerpt

Gantt charts are a must-have tool for every project manager. They help you plan and track the progress of your project, and make sure that you stay on track. They’re easy to use and understand, and they can save you a lot of time and hassle. So if you’re a project manager, make sure you get yourself a Gantt chart!

https://project-management.com/gantt-chart-software-lp/

How Line Charts Helped Me Visualize Data Better

Introduction

As someone who loves working with data, I’ve always been a fan of visualizing it in a way that makes it easier to understand. Recently, I started using line charts to do just that and it has made a huge difference in how I understand the data I’m working with. Line charts are a great way to visualize data because they provide a clear and concise picture of how a certain set of data points are related. They also allow me to easily identify trends and changes over time. By using line charts, I’m able to better understand the data I’m working with and make more informed decisions.

The Power of Line Charts for Data Analysis

When it comes to data analysis, line charts are a powerful tool. They can be used to track trends over time, compare different sets of data, and identify patterns. Line charts are easy to read and interpret, making them a great choice for visualizing data.

Line charts are a type of graph that plots data points along a line. Each data point is connected by a line, making it easy to see the overall trend. The x-axis of the graph is usually the independent variable, while the y-axis is the dependent variable. This means that the x-axis is usually a timeline, while the y-axis is the value of the data being tracked.

Line charts are a great way to visualize data because they make it easy to identify patterns and trends. For example, if you’re tracking sales over time, a line chart can quickly show you whether sales are increasing or decreasing. It can also show you how sales are changing from month to month.

Line charts can also be used to compare different sets of data. For example, if you’re tracking sales for two different products, you can use a line chart to compare the performance of each product over time. This can help you identify which product is performing better and why.

Line charts are also useful for forecasting. By looking at the trend of the data, you can make predictions about what will happen in the future. This can be especially helpful for businesses that need to plan ahead.

Overall, line charts are a great tool for data analysis. They make it easy to track trends, compare different sets of data, and make predictions. If you’re looking for a way to visualize your data, line charts are a great choice.

 

Excerpt

I’m a data enthusiast, and I’ve found that line charts are a great way to visualize my data. They help me see trends and patterns more clearly, and make it easier to understand the information I’m looking at. Line charts are my go-to for data visualization, and I’m grateful for how much they’ve helped me better understand my data.

Line Chart (microstrategy.com)

The Bar Chart

There is an amusing anecdote about a bar chart depicting the pros and cons of coffee versus tea. One day, two colleagues met in the coffee kitchen and noticed the chart on the wall. One colleague was an inveterate coffee drinker, while the other preferred tea.

When the coffee drinker looked at the chart and saw that coffee had more benefits than tea, he began to smile triumphantly and said, „See, I told you coffee was better than tea!“ The tea drinker, however, not a fan of statistics and charts, just shook his head and replied, „That may be, but I’ll stick with tea anyway.“

The anecdote illustrates that while bar charts are a useful and informative way to present data, ultimately the decision of what to consume or do depends on personal tastes and preferences. Nevertheless, the bar chart remains one of the most important chart types to the human eye because it provides a clear and quick visualization of data and is easy to understand, even for people without extensive knowledge of statistics.

Learn more about Bar Charts (microstrategy.com)

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