10 chart design ideas that are simple, focused, and exciting for your business presentations
Nov 28, 2014
10 chart design ideas that are simple, focused, and exciting for
your business presentations
STBANKD Bank
A Bank
B Bank18%
9%7.3%5%
Top Spenders
Advertising Expenses
STBANKD Bank
A Bank
B Bank18%
9%7.3%5%
Top Spenders
Advertising Expenses
Use simple and direct methods for creating charts that are simple, direct, and focused.
The charting feature of PowerPoint or Keynote restrict your creative freedom. Draw rectangles and text boxes instead and build your charts manually.
5%
8%10%
17%
60%
by Media Portfolio
New Spend in Advertising
FacebookBillboards
5%
8%10%
17%
60%
by Media Portfolio
New Spend in Advertising
FacebookBillboards
Decide on what is important before you start. Try not to have more than 5 segments for your PIE chart.
To further reduce clutter and make key data clearer, label only the key segments needed for the presentation.
Use colours wisely.
Preferred Beverages in April 2012
Tea
Juice
Coffee
Water24,300
15,750
Preferred Beverages in April 2012
Tea
Juice
Coffee
Water24,300
15,750
Use colours to highlight key data or to differentiate items that you want your viewers to focus on.
Add an image if you need for further emphasis on selected information.
Don’t worry if your slide looks bare and simple. It is a good thing.
Job applications 2008-2012
Planner
Project Manager Traffic
Controller
Sea Pilot
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
5
25
50applicants
Fewer people are motivated to be a Sea Pilot
Job applications 2008-2012
Planner
Project Manager Traffic
Controller
Sea Pilot
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
5
25
50applicants
Fewer people are motivated to be a Sea Pilot
More details can be added if necessary, but always ask yourself—what is the objective?
Can the key information still be seen clearly with added details?
Remember that less is more.
NPAT & Revenue (S$ million)
2009B2008 2010F
392
407400
196203
199 NPAT
Revenue
NPAT & Revenue (S$ million)
2009B2008 2010F
392
407400
196203
199 NPAT
Revenue
Build your ideas on paper before you touch your computer. Begin with clear objectives.
Think of ways to show complex information clearly on your presentation slides.
Drawing charts using shapes is the best method to get what you want and how you want it shown.
Sales of European cars!declining in Zombie Island
2009 2010 2011
Research by 4wheels Data, Inc.
2012
Japanese
Korean
European
Sales of European cars!declining in Zombie Island
2009 2010 2011
Research by 4wheels Data, Inc.
2012
Japanese
Korean
European
Line chart is a good way to show trend information.
Do not pack your slide with too many lines. Draw your lines thick and clear so that they are easily seen.
Use direct labels for your charts. Try not to use ‘legends’ if possible.
Whose R.O.I.?
2008 2011 2014 20xx
online searches
ROI
Whose R.O.I.?
2008 2011 2014 20xx
online searches
ROI
Using coloured background is okay. But make sure that there is good contrast between background and data you placed on your slide.
Shapes in PowerPoint or Keynote can be quite powerful. Combine shapes to build icons to create pictorial charts that are exciting.
Bread
Others
75%
15%
10%
Cookies
What do people eat with their afternoon coffee?
Chocolate Chips
43%
Healthy Oats
28%
Oreo
39%
Bread
Others
75%
15%
10%
Cookies
What do people eat with their afternoon coffee?
Chocolate Chips
43%
Healthy Oats
28%
Oreo
39%
You can’t do this if you use the charting feature of PowerPoint and Keynote.
Manipulate shapes and lines to create something different and exciting. Then add text, change text size and styles, and drag them to position.
Watch your contrast and colour usage!
27%
50%
75%
42%
Too expensive compared to outside
Healthy choice not available
Variety of food limited
Environment not conducive
Poll on employee not eating at company’s canteen
27%
50%
75%
42%
Too expensive compared to outside
Healthy choice not available
Variety of food limited
Environment not conducive
Poll on employee not eating at company’s canteen
Not all charts have to be vertical. Some data are best presented horizontally.
If you need to add descriptive text to individual chart data, then a horizontal presentation is more suited for this purpose.
Try it and you’ll understand why.
Android
iOSWindows
Others
Price USD
Year first introduced
2007 2010 20132005
2014 Mobile OS Market Share
800
1,200
500
300
Android
iOSWindows
Others
Price USD
Year first introduced
2007 2010 20132005
2014 Mobile OS Market Share
800
1,200
500
300
Have multi-dimensional information to share?
Try the bubble chart. Besides the x-y axis, the size of the bubble also represent another set of data. Can be confusing if you are not clear what you want to show.
Again, be focused and decide what is the key information. Remember to start with clear objectives.
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