Data Visualization Handbook for Designers and Analysts
In a world that generates roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day, turning raw numbers into clear, engaging stories has become an essential skill. This handbook blends design principles with analytical rigor, making it invaluable for anyone building dashboards, reports, or data-driven user experiences.
Data Visualization Handbook for Designers and Analysts
By Jim Gulsen | Summarized by iReadCustomer
In a world that generates roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day, turning raw numbers into clear, engaging stories has become an essential skill. This handbook blends design principles with analytical rigor, making it invaluable for anyone building dashboards, reports, or data-driven user experiences.
When designing a visual narrative, start with the story—know your audience and the question the data must answer. Prioritize clarity by labeling elements plainly and avoiding unnecessary complexity. Maintain consistency in color palette, units, and formatting across all visuals. Add context with concise annotations so readers grasp the insight at a glance.
Choose the right chart type from the 20-plus options highlighted in the guide. Use bar or line charts for comparisons, spider/radar charts for skill or performance assessments, box or violin plots to show data distributions, Sankey diagrams to illustrate complex flows, and sunburst or tree diagrams for hierarchical data.
Ensure accessibility by using high-contrast colors and providing alt text for users with visual impairments. Whenever possible, rely on tools that support real-time data or easy refresh cycles—recommended platforms include Tableau, Looker Studio, Figma plugins, and Google Sheets sync solutions.
For deeper expertise, consult leading voices such as Edward Tufte, Stephen Few, and Alberto Cairo. Ready to tell better stories through data? Explore additional plugins and resources here:
https://www.figma.com/comm.../tag/data-visualization/plugins#ireadcustomer