Visualizations can be tricky to create, especially when you’re learning ways to make them more effective. There are several ways to create visualizations that always work. Take a look below for 3 different tips and examples of graphics to help make your visualizations the most effective that they can be.
Tip 1: Create accessible graphics
When it comes to visualizations, one of the most important things to remember is to make sure what you create is accessible. There are accessibility laws in Ontario to help make sure that a wide variety of people, such as people who are visually impaired or have cognitive challenges, can read your work. This means choosing fonts, typefaces, and colours that you know meet the accessibility standards every time. In the graphic above, I compared what an accessible colour contrast looks like to an unaccessible colour contrast. The top one is very effective because you can clearly see the text in comparison to the background, unlike the bottom combination that does not have good contrast and could cause people to have a hard time reading it. Be careful with the elements you choose in your graphic and make sure they are readable and have good contrast to meet accessibility standards.
Tip 2: Create logical flow in your visualizations
When it comes to creating graphics, the layout is very important and helps create logical flow. This includes creating space around elements to separate them, emphasizing important information, and keeping your visualizations consistent with your branding. In the above graphic, I used accessible font, white space, and emphasis on the word “logical” to create a graphic that is easy to read and flow. This also means using headings and paragraphs accurately and in a logical order. For example, throughout this piece, tip 1 follows tip 2 and is separated by headings. The layout of a visualization is a great way to create effective logical flow throughout your graphics.
Tip 3: Create clarity in your visualizations
One of the most important things to remember when creating visualizations is to make sure that they are clear. By choosing consistent, readable typography and only a few contrasting colours in your visualizations, your visualizations will be very clear. This sets the standards for the rest of your work and creates readability for your audience. In the above graphic, you can clearly see that the most readable version of “clarity” is the one at the top with clear font and only one contrasting colour. Clarity creates consistency within your work that is accessible to your wider audience.
It can be difficult to remember all of the elements you should include to make your visualizations work. These are just a few tips that I’ve learned to help make your visuals effective every time. This includes making your graphics accessible, have a logical flow, and clear. Hopefully, you will keep these in mind when you’re making visualizations in the future.