You have to know that graphs have been used for many years by many people in dynamic situations. For years, many have dreaded the use of graph makers in data presentation. Some think it only complicates things. Is there any truth to this? Find out here.
Generally, graphs are considered to visually represent information to allow for easy comprehension of large amounts of data. They’re frequently used in science, technology, and data analysis. They’re arranged so that a person can see a relationship between two values, and they’re used in a variety of applications, from natural language processing to data mining.
So what do people believe about graphs? What do they think about the misconceptions that go along with charts? In this article, we’ll explore some of these graph makers misconceptions and what can be done to address them.
Learning to master a graph maker makes you a pro in making graphs.
This is a common misconception because mastering one graph maker or digital tool will not make you a pro in creating effective graphs that could capture the client’s eye.
Yes, learning about the graph maker application will give you an advantage to effectively use the software. Still, you also have to note your client’s needs and requests, as well as your target audience, to ensure that the graph you’re making suits them.
When creating graphs, you must go beyond the wonders of technology and add a little bit of imagination. With this, you will create an appropriate chart that can clearly and creatively show your data.
Using default templates is good enough.
Templates are offered in every graph maker application, but it’s not always good enough to stick with them. You have to remember that the graphs you’re making should be tailored to the needs and demands of the people who will be viewing them.
That means that each graph should be uniquely created to fit a specific data set, audience, and theme to ensure that the graph you are creating will effectively represent your data and, at the same time, captures your audience’s eyes.
Besides, using defaults will just make you look lazy. The best way to avoid that is to make sure that the graph you have created sprang from creativity.
A “pretty” graph is an effective graph.
Yes, making your charts and graphs eye-catching and pleasing is not a bad thing, but another misconception about graphs is that designing a graph beautifully will make it effective.
The effectiveness of a graph will still depend on how you present your data in a manner that is readable and understandable to your target audience.
Every time you start creating a graph or a chart, you have to take note of your client’s demands and learn the theme you think will effectively show the data. With your knowledge and creativity, not only will you be able to make a “pretty” graph, but you will also be able to create an effective graph.
A completely labeled graph is a good graph.
Labelling the graphs you are making is a must to make sure that your client or audience can grasp what you are trying to present. But this does not mean that you need to include every label in the graph. That just makes your graph look messy and unreadable.
A graph is a visual representation of data, but not all charts are created equal. Do a Google image search for “graph,” and you’ll find a seemingly endless array of them. Some are beautiful, others are unbecoming, and some are downright “interesting” to look at.
However, there’s one thing that you can count on: a graph, by its very nature, must convey information about the data it displays. That means it no longer needs to be labelled entirely; it only has to be labelled clearly, enough to let your audience understand the data that you are trying to present.
Labelling a graph or chart can be too easy, which is why people often result in over-labelling it. One thing you can do to avoid that is to remember to use a minimalist approach, meaning using small but readable text and avoiding crowding the graph with too much information.
Good graphs should be readable at first sight.
Graphs are amazing things, and they save us all from having to write out a long and complex sentence whenever we wish to convey valuable information to someone. However, sometimes they are not that easy to read and understand because we tend to see the graphs differently, according to our experience and background.
This leads us to the common misconception that graphs are only pictures of data. The fact is, a graph is a “visual summary” of the data it contains. As with any other kind of chart, graphs can be simplified but are never meant to be read “at a glance.”
With this belief, people tend to think that it is easy to recognize patterns and relationships in graphs. This can result in an inaccurate understanding of a graph. To clearly understand the graph presented, you have to grasp each concept and data included and view it as one whole presentation.
Using lots of colors in graphs.
Graphs are a handy way to visualize data. And most people are visual learners, it’s easy to get carried away with all the pretty colours, shapes, and fonts. Graphs in themselves are neither good nor bad. However, if all graphs are done the same way, then it’s easy to make mistakes.
This will lead you to believe in the misconception that using many colours while creating a graph can make it presentable and effective, which is not valid.
Using soft pale colours like gray or blue is enough to represent the data clearly in your graphs and charts. Striking colours like red or yellow should only be used to highlight a data point or emphasize other small details.
Creating one graph is enough.
There is a recent trend to create single charts that show everything. Many people assume that a single chart can offer everything and effectively show the entire picture. This is one of the most common mistakes people make, and it’s one of the dumbest. A single chart can show everything; it just can’t always be the best way to do it.
Creating a more complex set of graphs and charts effectively shows a more appealing and more precise picture. That’s why scatter plot matrices, small multiples, or trellis displays, especially multiple variations of executive dashboards, are much more effective than a simple chart.
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Indeed, making graphs and charts can be challenging especially if you are clouded by a lot of misconceptions about it. Venngage can help you with that by giving you information and ideas on how to spot these misconceptions and create a graph that is unique and presentable.