Comments on: Design principles for better charts: simplicity http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/ Effective Charts and Dashboards for Excel users Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:31:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: How to create an Excel dashboard http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-16341 How to create an Excel dashboard Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:49:07 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-16341 [...] make sure you select the acceptable formats). Throughout this blog you’ll find many charting tips, and tips to improve your Excel dashboard, so I will not elaborate much on this. The basic premise [...] [...] make sure you select the acceptable formats). Throughout this blog you’ll find many charting tips, and tips to improve your Excel dashboard, so I will not elaborate much on this. The basic premise [...]

]]> By: Jorge http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-1657 Jorge Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:52:20 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-1657 Chris: just select a single data point, not the whole series. Chris: just select a single data point, not the whole series.

]]> By: Chris Capel http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-1655 Chris Capel Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:39:56 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-1655 Can you give a hint how you plot one label at each serie? If I use Data Labels / Series Name, I get the series name at every data point. When you use a TextBox, it does not move with the line, if the data is updated. Can you give a hint how you plot one label at each serie?
If I use Data Labels / Series Name, I get the series name at every data point. When you use a TextBox, it does not move with the line, if the data is updated.

]]> By: 10 x 10 Tips to improve your (Excel) charts: formatting | Jorge Camoes' Charts http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-188 10 x 10 Tips to improve your (Excel) charts: formatting | Jorge Camoes' Charts Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:59:48 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-188 [...] Apply sound design principles; [...] [...] Apply sound design principles; [...]

]]> By: admin http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-187 admin Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:34:02 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-187 Tom, you are right. I have that in my miscellaneous tips in the 10x10 series. I confess that's something I don't always remember (usually my internal clients know where the data comes from). Tom, you are right. I have that in my miscellaneous tips in the 10×10 series. I confess that’s something I don’t always remember (usually my internal clients know where the data comes from).

]]> By: Tom Johnson http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-186 Tom Johnson Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:22:30 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-186 And, though it might not exactly fit this category of discussion, I would argue that the source of the data should always be present. -tj And, though it might not exactly fit this category of discussion, I would argue that the source of the data should always be present.

-tj

]]> By: Tony http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-185 Tony Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:10:07 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-185 I hear that Tahoma is a pretty popular choice. Also Calibri is pretty nice. By default I have Gill Sans MT in my Excel. I hear that Tahoma is a pretty popular choice. Also Calibri is pretty nice. By default I have Gill Sans MT in my Excel.

]]> By: Lee http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-184 Lee Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:22:17 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-184 I guess I got lucky - our corporate Windows XP install comes with Gill Sans MT. I use it extensively as a result. I'd love to hear thoughts on the appropriate font to use for data density in charts and overall readability. I guess I got lucky – our corporate Windows XP install comes with Gill Sans MT. I use it extensively as a result.

I’d love to hear thoughts on the appropriate font to use for data density in charts and overall readability.

]]> By: admin http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-183 admin Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:18:38 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-183 Tony, grossu: Quoting Einstein, "everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." We must stop at a point where the marginal benefits are irrelevant or start to be negative. I don't know if we can define where that point is. Do we know when we get there? Is it defined by growing perception costs? (Kosslyn believes that that happens in some of Tufte's designs.) Lee: I think Gill Sans is not available in a standard Windows installation, is it? If not, that can be a problem. Tony, grossu: Quoting Einstein, “everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” We must stop at a point where the marginal benefits are irrelevant or start to be negative. I don’t know if we can define where that point is. Do we know when we get there? Is it defined by growing perception costs? (Kosslyn believes that that happens in some of Tufte’s designs.)

Lee: I think Gill Sans is not available in a standard Windows installation, is it? If not, that can be a problem.

]]> By: grossu http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-182 grossu Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:55:05 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/design-principles-for-better-charts-simplicity/#comment-182 If we discuss details. I would have reduced the number of horizontal lines to three, and just removed a vertical line. And most importantly, do not leave anonymous title. Each chart must convey the Idea. I would supply with a title here: "The growth rate of product 2 is higher and will take the quarter of market to the next February. " If we discuss details. I would have reduced the number of horizontal lines to three, and just removed a vertical line. And most importantly, do not leave anonymous title. Each chart must convey the Idea. I would supply with a title here: “The growth rate of product 2 is higher and will take the quarter of market to the next February. “

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