3. Saves time
Instead of spending the time trying to figure out what the facts and figures mean, your audience members can ENGAGE with the meaning. A visual representation allows you to analyze huge amounts of info in the blink of an eye. As we know, the human eye can recognize and process visual information much faster than text.
4. Makes for better decision making
Assuming your data visualizations contain correct data and are done properly, you’ll not only be able to make decisions faster, but they will be based on data that you fully comprehend.
One of the best things about data visualization is that they are accessible and easier to share across departments, with colleagues, your boss, or with a large audience. They can be inserted in your PowerPoint presentation, printed for seminar handouts, or even posted and shared on social media.
For example, below is a data visualization superimposing the Titanic over the world’s new cruise ship (the Allure of the Seas) to demonstrate that the new ship is almost 5 times bigger.
Data Visualization Examples
As stated in the research report “Information Animation Applications in the Capital Markets,”
The impact of your visual data is only be good as the visualisation! Here are a few great examples of successful data visualizations to give you an idea of the best way to deliver complex information through visuals:
http://www.visualinformation.info/visualizing-the-national-debt-infographic/
It’s important to choose the right visualization for the right information. Here are some of the most common data visualization techniques:
Column Chart Example
Bar charts are one of the most popular data visualizations and most commonly used for comparing items over a horizontal time frame, moving left to right.
These specific data visualizations usually work best with less than 15 data points. If you have more than 15 data points, I recommend using a line chart instead.
You will see this type of data frequently used for showing sales figures over a specific time period, with the years running along the x-axis and the unit running along the Y axis, as you can see in the example below showing Apple’s Revenue from 2014 to 2018.
Bar Chart Example
Similar to the bar chart, the column chart is used to compare multiple values outside of a horizontal based time frame.
This works well for survey data, responses or any other non-date based category. For this type of data visualization you will see the category running up and down
You can also use two different column charts to show how a category has changed over a specific time period.
The two-sided bar chart is a great way to show changes in specific categories over two specific time periods, without having to show all of the information in between those two dates.
Pie Chart and Doughnut Chart Examples
Another familiar visualization technique is the humble doughnut chart (one step better than a pie chart).
The key to making your doughnut charts or pie charts clearer, is to break down your data into two pieces of data to highlight the point you want to make.
For example, if you point is that 85% of survey respondents are using 4 or 5 programs, combine those pieces together and highlight it again the other data as contrasted in the visual below.
Timeline Example
A timeline is a great data visualization technique when you wish to show data in a chronological order and highlighting those important points in time.
To create a Timeline, simply layout your data points along a PowerPoint shape, and mark the data off to visually see your overall project.
If you need to create lots of time based timelines like this, I recommend checking outOffice Timeline. Their PowerPoint app makes creating timelines and Gantt charts extremely easy.
Venn Diagram Example
The Venn Diagram is a great technique for comparing and contrasting ideas and concepts, especially when showing an overlapping piece is important.
For example, in the simple Venn diagram below, your point could be that for a successful launch, you need strategy, execution and commitment.
For help making a Venn diagram in PowerPoint, read our guide here.
Gantt Chart Example
Gantt Charts are particularly useful for project managers as a visualisation technique to show when different phases of a project are starting and stopping over a specific timeline.
Below is an example of a Gantt chart (with a timeline) built entirely using PowerPoint shapes.
Gantt charts like this allow you to organize tasks, team members, timing, potential problems, etc.
They can also be useful for showing multiple categories of continuous data over a period of time.
Infographic Example
Infographics are the business buzzword of the moment. Infographics are a great way to deliver facts and figures in a narrative format which is both attractive and easy to read. They are particularly useful to explain case studies or to summarize complex reports.
You can create your own infographic simply by adding icons, graphics, charts, and formatting your numbers in interesting ways.
Below is an example of a simple infographic I created in Microsoft PowerPoint using nothing but the default PowerPoint icons, fonts and charts. You can obviously make them more complicated if you like.
The goal of an infographic like this is to break down your data points into something visual so that users can more easily digest the information you are presenting them.
Dashboard Data Visualization Example
A dashboard is a data visualization that brings multiple pieces of data (charts, graphics, etc.) onto a single slide. That way you can show the overall health of a situation instead of just individual pieces. Or as explained by Smart Data Collective’s Keyan Keihani.
To create a dashboard, simply create individual graphics of the relevant data points you need to see the overall health or performance of your topic.
For example, your dashboard could be as simple as 3 column charts showing annual sales, annual expenses and annual net income as shown below.
To keep the above dashboard consistent, I used the same vertical axis value of 130 billion. That way the data stays consistent across all 3 column charts. I also used a darker color to highlight the year 2020.
Data Visualization Tips
Don’t forget to be specific in your titles
While data visualization helps your audience understand your data more easily, you’ll still want to label it well. If you don’t properly label your graphics, your entire meaning can be lost.
Give your graph or chart a title and it instantly becomes more readable.
Highlight your main points clearly
Highlighting certain figures, sections or columns helps draw attention to the most essential information and can direct your message.
