1. Start with the Question
Define the business question before building your viz. Let the question guide your chart and dashboard choices.
2. Choose the Right Chart
- Bar/line: comparisons & trends
- Scatter: relationships
- Map: geographic data
- Limit pie charts
3. Use Color Intentionally
- Highlight key insights, not decoration
- Use colorblind-friendly palettes
- Keep color meanings consistent
4. Simplify & Remove Clutter
- Remove unnecessary gridlines, borders, legends
- Use whitespace for clarity
- Show only essential data
5. Design for the User
- Put key metrics at the top/left
- Test on desktop and mobile
- Use tooltips and filters for interactivity
6. Tell a Story
Guide the viewer: context → insight → action. Use annotations and clear titles.
7. Optimize Performance
- Use extracts for large data
- Limit quick filters and marks
- Test dashboard load time