9780393072952

0393072959

9780393347289

0393347281

The definitive guide to the graphic presentation of information contains a step-by-step guide to executing clear, concise, and intelligent graphics. The most current digital information is included along with practical advice, making this an essential reference.

"In today's data-driven world, professionals need to know how to express themselves in the language of graphics effectively and eloquently. Yet information graphics is rarely taught in schools or is the focus of on-the-job training. Now, for the first time, Dona M. Wong, a student of the information graphics pioneer Edward Tufte, makes this material available for all of us. In this book, you will learn: to choose the best chart that fits your data; the most effective way to communicate with decision makers when you have five minutes of their time; how to chart currency fluctuations that affect global business; how to use color effectively; and how to make a graphic "colorful" even if only black and white are available. The book is organized in a series of mini-workshops backed up with illustrated examples, so not only will you learn what works and what doesn't but also you can see the dos and don'ts for yourself."--Publisher's description.

Guide to information graphics

Dos and don'ts of presenting data, facts, and figures

Wall Street journal.

Introduction

1. The basics

Charting

Numbers

Data integrity

Data richness

Fonts

Legibility

Typography in charts

The visual

data continuum

Color

Basics

Color palettes

Color in charts

Color chart templates

Coloring for the color blind

Color scale application

2. Chart smart

Lines

Height and weight

Y-axis increments

Clean lines, clear signal

Legends and labels

Left-right y-axis scales

Comparable scales

Vertical bars

Form and shading

Zero baseline

Multiple bars and legends

Broken bars and outliers

Horizontal bars

Ordering and regrouping

Negative bars

Pies

Slicing and dicing

Dressing up the slices

Slicing a slice

Proportional pies

Tables

Grid lines

Numbers alignment and ordering

Pictograms

Choice of icons

Comparing quantities

Maps

Mapping and shading

3. Ready reference

Do the math

Mean, median, mode

Standard deviation

Probability

Average vs. weighted average

Moving average

Logarithmic scale

Comparable scales

Percentage change

Re-indexing to 100 or 0

Percentages

Expressing percentages

Absolute values vs. percentage changes

Percent of a percentage

Don't average percentages

Copy style in charts

Words

Numerals

Money

Major stock indexes

Measuring performance

Arithmetic vs. geometric rate of return

Currencies

4. Tricky situations

Missing data

Big numbers, small change

Comparable scales

Coloring with black ink

5. Charting your course

Org chart

Flow chart

Work plan

Timeline

Progress report

Spider chart

Schedule and budget chart

In brief

Acknowledgments

Creative process revealed

Index.

Business presentations > Graphic methods.

Business presentations > Graphic methods.