Examples Of Good Graphs And Charts That Will Inspire You

Unlock the power of data visualization with these stunning graphs. From bar to pie, scatter to line graphs, discover the best examples of good graphs, and supercharge your reports today.

Leaving that energetic intro aside, we know that data is paramount today for both businesses and individuals. It supports efficient problem-solving and strategizing processes.

However, data alone will not convey all the information needed to make solid decisions. It is crucial to examine it thoroughly and recognize existing patterns.

This procedure of data analysis has become the basis of most decision-making processes. With it, professionals can accurately predict market trends, challenges, and needs.

 

Additionally, one of the most important aspects of data is its representation. Data visualization through comprehensive charts and graphs enables better and faster understanding.

It also fosters widespread knowledge of current events and directions. Thus, it empowers solution-driven operations to maintain innovation and competitiveness.

Below, you will find examples of good graphs split according to their respective chart types. These data visualizations will inspire you to present information with clarity and precision.

Data Visualization Examples by Type of Chart

Bar Charts

OECD – Better Life Index

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) fosters policies that improve lives. They assess the well-being of the population in different countries with a worldwide impact.

Their Better Life Index presents a unique column chart scoring 41 countries according to 11 key metrics. These parameters are combined to form the index values on the vertical axis.

This data visualization uses a flower to indicate the rank of each country. Flower size and height vary according to the results.

This example shows how column charts can be fully interactive and flexible to your subject and data. The same chart allows users to see gender differences or personalize their index.

The Pudding – Film Dialogue (Broken Down by Gender)

The Pudding set out to present data regarding men-dominated movie roles by studying over 2000 screenplays. Here, you will find five main charts and graphs.

They start examining dialogue by gender in Disney movies with the charts above. They present a bullet graph for male, balanced, and female-dominated dialogues.

Afterward, they introduce a dot plot of all scripts divided by gender in which the data points represent movies. They use bar graphs to analyze high-grossing films that reached the top 2500 at US Box Office.

A gradient stacked bar chart breaks down dialogues by gender. When you click on it, it shows a simple bar graph of the movie’s top five characters.

Additionally, a diverging bar chart reveals female and male lines by the minute. Then, two bar graphs split the percentage of dialogue by gender and age.

To sum up, they present a Marimekko chart of all films by cast member and gender. The use of data visualization in this study fosters transparency, despite the intricacy of the data set content.

Real-life Bar Chart

This unique column chart includes three beer mugs, a handwritten label, and a $5 bill. Despite not being digital, this basic bar chart is one of the best examples of good graphs.

It shows that you can create charts and graphs out of anything. Column charts are easy to build and help compare and visualize data at a glance.

The Next America

 

Next, the Pew Research Center presents population pyramids. This type of bar graph depicts the distribution of a population by age group and gender.

The x-axis represents the size of that population, while the y-axis defines its age. Hence, the bar chart allows you to analyze past numbers and enables solid predictions.

The Next America is a look into the trends and changes that will shape the future of the country’s population. Besides the example above, it has numerous other charts and graphs.

In this case, they joined several bar charts to create a moving graphic instead of presenting a single data visualization. In them, you can learn the percentages of the American population between 1950 and 2060.

For example, you can notice the impact of better healthcare on the elderly population rates.

Bar chart created with wpDataTables

Discover the most populous nations in the world using our bar chart made with wpDataTables. Compare and evaluate population statistics for various nations quickly. With this useful visualization, you can find out which nations rank highest and learn about changes in the world’s population.

Bubble charts

Information is Beautiful – Data Breaches and Hacks

Information is Beautiful presents a bubble chart of the most significant data breaches and hacks. This data visualization is interactive and allows access to its raw data.

The bubble chart is similar to a scatter graph but introduces an additional numeric variable. Bubble size varies according to the scale of the breach or attack.

Here, users can get an overview of events from 2004 onwards. Placing the cursor on top of the data points will open a summary of the occurrence, and clicking on it will lead to its detailed story.

There is also a selection of filters available that enclose different categories, such as method and sector. This way, users can choose to analyze data in detail, with more precision.

It will help them see logical relationships between data changes and possible corrective actions. Beneath this graphic are other bubble charts of data breaches according to data sensitivity.

 

Your beautiful data deserves to be online

wpDataTables can make it that way. There’s a good reason why it’s the #1 WordPress plugin for creating responsive tables and charts.

An actual example of wpDataTables in the wild

And it’s really easy to do something like this:

  1. You provide the table data
  2. Configure and customize it
  3. Publish it in a post or page

And it’s not just pretty, but also practical. You can make large tables with up to millions of rows, or you can use advanced filters and search, or you can go wild and make it editable.

“Yeah, but I just like Excel too much and there’s nothing like that on websites”. Yeah, there is. You can use conditional formatting like in Excel or Google Sheets.

Did I tell you you can create charts too with your data? And that’s only a small part. There are lots of other features for you.

Four Ways to Slice Obama’s 2013 Budget Proposal

This unique circular graph is a bubble chart of President Obama’s 2013 Budget Proposal. There are four main ways to explore it, each with its own data visualization.

Users can view all spending or divide expenses by type of spending. They can also see the changes in discretionary spending or check department totals.

They can get more details by placing the cursor over the data points in each bubble chart. Thus, users might understand the spending estimation of $3.8 trillion with a $901 billion deficit.

The chart shows budget cuts or increases through a variation in bubble colors. As to their size, it changes according to the proposed spending value.

Interactive Chart of Good Government

Interactive features tend to make charts and graphs more complex. Thus, it is usually best to avoid them for clear and precise data visualization.

Still, not all charts need to be static. Depending on your theme and audience, interactivity can increase engagement and boost data impact.

That is why Gov | DNA is one of the best examples of good graphs on this list. This website allows users to explore the DNA of a good government through various graphics.

They use scatter plots for several significant indexes. They simplify understanding by using bubbles to represent countries in each scatter diagram.

Besides, each country also has an individual mekko chart detailing its progress and metrics results.

Circular Network Chart

Popular Programming Languages in 300 CRAN Packages

Learning data visualization techniques will help you create unique charts and graphs. As you become more skilled, you will no longer have to settle with a type of chart design.

For example, network diagrams are valuable in ascertaining logical connections between data. At the same time, pie charts have a more comprehensive layout.

Plus, a bubble chart allows you to easily represent different values without a limit of categories. When you become proficient in chart design, you can create a single data visualization with features from these three. That is what the above chart shows.

It analyzes popular programming languages in 300 CRAN (Comprehensive R Archive Network) packages. Despite the complexity of its data set, this data visualization is engaging and easy to understand.

Its creator, Torsten Sprenger, even shared the data and code on his GitHub profile.

Line Graphs

COVID-19 Hospitalization Rates

This line chart portrays the weekly hospitalization rates associated with COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compiled the data between March and November 2020.

Line graphs compare two variables, which makes them an excellent choice for general information. The labels and different color shades make this data visualization easy to read and accessible for most people.

Global Surface Temperature

Clarity is the most crucial feature in charts and graphs. This list of examples of good graphs includes several simple maps representing complex data.

Accordingly, the line graph is one of the best data visualization methods to maintain clear presentations. It is excellent to depict time series data with two or more variables.

The line chart above displays temperature anomalies between 1880 and 2010. The y-axis registers changes in degrees celsius, while the x-axis represents the timeline.

Additionally, this line graph compiles information from four data sources within the same period. They all reach the same distressing conclusion that temperatures have been rising alarmingly.

You can see how the straightforward chart design and the irrefutable sources highlight its data set. Despite transmitting public knowledge information, the line graph is still impactful.

Pie Chart

Most Popular Food Delivery Items in America

Pie charts are an excellent way to portray qualitative data in numeric variables when there are not too many categories. In this example, Eater analyzes the most popular delivery items in America.

The pie chart shows eight varieties of commonly available food for delivery. It also includes a legend with the different values that concern each option.

3D pie chart created in WordPress

Experience your data in a new dimension with our 3D bar chart created using WPDataTables and Highcharts library. Stunning, interactive visualizations made easy.

Streamgraph

Immigration to The United States

The last example of a good graph is an area chart. This type of chart is beautiful as well as informative.

Area charts are data visualization methods that provide a clear outline of the information depicted. On the downside, they are not the best choice for detailed analysis.

In this example, the area chart is a streamgraph portraying immigration to the United States between 1829 and 2013. With colorful data labels, it examines the number of immigrants, prior country of residence, and year of moving.

Users can see the changes in immigration flows and origins and relate them to historical events or trends. For example, during and sometime after the Second World War, there was a significant slowdown in immigration.

Frequently asked questions about graphs

What makes a good graph?

A good graph is one that succinctly and clearly expresses the data it represents.

In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and simple to read, it should correctly and truthfully portray the data.

How do I choose the best type of graph for my data?

Depending on the nature of your data and the message you wish to express, you will choose a particular form of graph.

Scattered plots are excellent for displaying correlations between variables, line graphs are useful for displaying trends over time, and bar graphs are useful for comparing values.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when creating graphs?

Typical errors include using unsuitable or deceptive scales, omitting to name axes or units, utilizing unclear or deceptive visual cues, and failing to take the audience’s degree of competence into account.

How do I make sure my graph is visually appealing and easy to read?

Adopt a straightforward, color- and font-appropriate design. Make sure your labels and titles are legible and easy to read and stay away from superfluous clutter.

How do I label my axes and choose appropriate scales?

The proper scales and units should be prominently displayed on axes. Make sure the scale you use appropriately depicts the range of values and is appropriate for the data being shown.

How do I present my data effectively using a graph?

Choose a graph type that is appropriate for the data, then utilize visual components to draw attention to key ideas or patterns. Make sure the information is presented clearly and succinctly.

What are some best practices for displaying multiple sets of data on one graph?

To identify the data sets, use various colors or symbols. Clearly and succinctly describe each aspect of the graph in the legend.

How do I make sure my graph accurately represents my data without being misleading?

Use a suitable scale and precise labeling. Avoid making any potentially misleading changes to the graph’s visual components.

What role do colors and visual design elements play in creating a good graph?

A graph can be made more aesthetically pleasing and simpler to understand by using colors and other visual design components.

They can be utilized to draw attention to significant trends or data points.

How can I use annotations or other visual cues to highlight important points in my data?

To bring attention to crucial data points, annotations can be utilized, such as arrows, labels, or callouts.

To draw attention to particular data points or patterns, you can also utilize visual cues like various colors or symbols.

Ending thoughts

In conclusion, there is no denying the effectiveness of strong graphs and charts.

You may effectively communicate complicated facts and insights to your audience by selecting the appropriate sort of visualization and design.

The examples we’ve looked at show the creative potential of data visualization, from interactive dashboards to tasteful infographics.

Thus, why choose boring, uninspired charts when you can captivate your audience and motivate them to take action with lovely and useful data visualizations?

If you liked this article about examples of good graphs, you should check out this article about financial charts and graphs.

There are also similar articles discussing interactive charts, creating interactive charts, comparison chart makers, and comparison charts.

And let’s not forget about articles on React chart libraries, JavaScript chart libraries, chart generators, and animated charts.


Milos Timotic
Milos Timotic

Full Stack Web Developer

Articles: 41