{"id":16131,"date":"2018-05-14T08:44:59","date_gmt":"2018-05-14T12:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/?p=16131"},"modified":"2026-03-12T07:01:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T11:01:09","slug":"chart-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/chart-design\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Infographic & Chart Design"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"chart<\/a><\/p>\n

Charts have been used to communicate information clearly and effectively for centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

These days we see charts as commonplace\u2014a type of visual that everyone can, and should, make for infographics, reports, and presentations.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s because charts, when done right, can help viewers understand complex data. They can help reveal patterns, provide context, and describe relationships within datasets.<\/span><\/p>\n

But have you ever stopped to wonder what makes a chart effective?<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you know what separates a good chart design from a bad one?<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s far too easy to overlook the basics of good chart design. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I\u2019ve compiled this comprehensive list of chart design <\/span>do\u2019s<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>don\u2019ts<\/span><\/i>. I\u2019ve taken what we know about human perception and cognition to give you 10 tips on how to design charts that communicate effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

But first things first, how do you get your data into your charts?<\/span><\/p>\n

How to upload your data into Venngage charts<\/b><\/h2>\n

Before you start choosing and customizing your charts, you need to know how to upload your data! In Venngage, it’s simple. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the editor, select the type of chart you want to use. Double-click it and under the DATA tab, spot the green IMPORT button. Click it, select your CSV file, and your data gets visualized automatically.<\/p>\n

\"June<\/p>\n

1. Do use the right chart for your data <\/b><\/h2>\n

We can\u2019t talk about chart design without first discussing chart choices. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re like most people, you probably choose your charts based on how easy it is to create said chart in a basic charting tool. Conventional tools like Excel give you easy access to the most basic chart types, like the pie chart, the bar chart, and the line chart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"chart<\/a>

Each of these charts can be created with a single click in Venngage.<\/p><\/div>\n

But with Venngage, creating less conventional charts like bubble clouds, treemaps, icon charts, pyramids<\/a>, timelines, word clouds, tables and maps is just as easy.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, we\u2019ve updated Venngage tables to be easily customized in the editor. You can choose unique font styles and background colors for each cell. <\/span>Open the table widget, and you\u2019ll see the options under the data tab. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"June<\/p>\n

You can also choose the horizontal and vertical alignment of you text within each cell. Just select the settings tab and you’ll see the alignment options below.<\/p>\n

\"June<\/p>\n

With all of these different options and ways to customize your designs, how should you choose the best chart for your data?<\/p>\n

You should pick charts based two things:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What you want to say about your data.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The type of data you have.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Bar charts, for example, are best for <\/span>showing comparisons<\/span><\/i> of <\/span>categorical data<\/span><\/i> (data broken up into discrete categories). <\/span><\/p>\n

    \"chart<\/a><\/p>\n