1. How to Select the Right Chart for Your Data

2. Why is it important to make right chart?
Because right charts lead to right decisions. We use charts to tell stories, evaluate alternatives, understand trends or find-out if everything is normal. So, an incorrect charting choice can lead to poor judgment of the messages where as a correct chart can lead to right and faster decisions.

3. The Chart Making Process:
Know the Message
Arrange Data
Prepare Chart
Format

4. Finding out what you want to say
to Compare
to show the Distribution
to explain Parts of the Whole
to tell the Trend over time
to find out the Deviations
to understand the Relationship

5. To Compare
What it means? You want to compare one set of value(s) with another.
Examples:
Bar Charts,
Column Charts
Scatter Plots
Pie Charts
Line Charts
Data Tables

6. To Show the Distribution
What it means? You want to show the distribution of a set of values (to understand the outliers, normal ranges etc.)
Examples:
Column Charts
Scatter Plots
Line charts
Box Plots

7. Parts of Whole
What it means? You want to show how various parts comprise the whole
Examples:
Column Charts
Bar Charts
Pie Charts
Data Table

8. Trend over time
What it means? You want to understand the trend over time of some variable(s).
Examples:
Column Charts
Line Charts
Data Table

9. Deviations
What it means? You want to see which values deviate from the norm.
Examples:
Column Charts
Bar Charts
Line Charts
Data Table

10. Relationship
What it means? You want to establish (or show) relationship between 2 (or more) variables
Examples:
Scatter Plot
Line Chart
Data Table

11. 2. (Re)arranging the Data
Even when we know the message and corresponding chart, sometimes, our data may not support us. We then have to rearrange the data.
Using excel formulas, pivot tables, tables and data cleaning tools we can easily massage the data.

12. 3. Prepare the chart
Since you have already selected the chart type in Step 1, this is very straight forward. Most of the regular charts are available in MS Excel as default charts. You can insert them with few clicks.
But for some special chart types, you may have to prepare the chart by helper series, formatting etc.

13. 4. Format the chart
While most formatting is done as per individual taste, there are some ground rules that apply on almost all charts. Here they are:
No non-zero axis scale on bar charts [reasons and discussions]
Make subtle grid-lines (or remove them) [how to remove grid lines]
Add labels to important points [labeling techniques]
Add descriptive, bold titles
Position axis, scales at the right places (for eg. y-axis to the right on a large time series chart)
Use simple, easy colors

14. A final word:
The ideas in this post are meant to be guide lines, not final words in the world of visualization. While these rules can help you make a good chart, a great chart take so much more. Knowledge of your data, Passion for what you do and Genuine focus on your audience’ needs can make your chart truly outstanding.