Explaining multi-dimension charts in audiences
Different chart types have different benefits and use cases.
Bar and area charts work best with a small number of categories. Use them for ordered, unordered, or sequential data as needed.
Line charts are best used to emphasise ordered datasuch as days, weeks, months, etc., and can effectively show patterns and trends over time.
Clustered, stacked, and stacked 100% charts allow you to view absolute comparisons, total contributions, or proportional trends.
Column charts: Work well with a limited number of categories.
Bar charts: Work best with unordered categorical data such as Region. Bar charts are more flexible than column charts, as the addition of orientation and sort order can improve readability.
Line charts: Are ideal for sequential data, as the lines establish an implicit relationship between different points, such as days, weeks, months, patterns and trends over time etc.
Area charts: Emphasise volume by shading the space beneath the lines.
Stacked charts: Stack selected categories on top of each other, displaying total value and part-to-whole relationships over time. This allows you to analyse trends in total value.
Stacked 100% charts: Normalise your values to fill 100% of your chart height, representing proportion, rather than absolute value. This allows you to analyse relative contributions from each segment of your chart, and can show how proportions change by category or over time. This is useful for looking at something like market share with relative, rather than overall contributions.
Clustered charts: Maintain true scale for easy comparison of highest and lowest total values. This is effective for granular comparisons on a smaller scale without overall total or contributions to total.
Combo charts: Combine two dimensions and two measures. These charts can become cluttered but allow you to fully realise your data requirements to show the interrelationships between multiple data aspects in a single chart.
