Match the Question Before the Chart
Choose a chart family by naming the question the audience needs answered.
Chart choice is job matching. Start with the reading task, then pick the geometry that makes that task easy. Five common jobs Most business visuals do one main job: compare categories, show change over time, show composition, reveal distribution, or reveal relationship. Confusion starts when one chart is asked to do several jobs at once. That is how dashboards become noise. Why the match matters Some visual encodings are easier for people to compare than others. Length and position are usually fast to read. Angle, area, and color intensity require more effort. Good chart choice therefore lowers friction before the…
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