Graphic Communication FORFAR ACADEMY Graphic Communication Graphs and Charts Design Technology Department

Graphs A GRAPH (or Line Graph) connects a series of plotted points. The graph depicts trends or movement over a period of time. WHEN TO USE: To show trends or movements rather than amounts To Illustrate long series of data To compare series of data To predict trends or movement WHEN NOT TO USE: When the emphasis is on amounts When relative size or difference is required

Enhancing Graphs

BAR CHARTS A BAR CHART compares qualities or values which are not time related. Physical qualities such as size or weight work best vertically. Comparison of the magnitude of a number of items work best horizontally. WHEN TO USE: To compare the magnitude or size. WHEN NOT TO USE: To illustrate trends or movement

Enhancing Bar Charts

PIE CHARTS A PIE CHART is used to show relative values as a whole Charts with 7 or more components are usually confusing and difficult to interpret WHEN TO USE: To show approximate relative values of component parts of a whole. WHEN NOT TO USE: To compare component parts To show large numbers of components in a part. When the values of a number of component parts are small

Enhancing Pie Charts

PICTOGRAM Pictograms may be considered a type of BAR graph Values or sizes are represented by symbols or pictures directly related to the information being conveyed. WHEN TO USE: When items by be represented by symbols or pictures. WHEN NOT TO USE: When symbols or pictures are unclear or obscure.

Enhancing Pictograms

FORFAR ACADEMY Graphic Communication EXAMPLES Design Technology Department

Pie Chart

Pie & Line

Bar Graph

Line

Bar & Line

Bar & Line

Bar

Pictograph / Bar

Bar

3D Bar

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