Johan de Groot | Antichaos

Category: Data Visualization

  • Responsive Labels – Smarter, Cleaner Dashboards

    Data Visualization is about visualizing data the right way.

    Interactive business dashboards tend to have a special challenge: the must display data with accurate labels, regardless of how the data changes from day to day. Many infographics visualizations are using static data – and therefor the labels can be put on the most convenient location. But what happens when the data changes – either due to new data, or filtering? Labels will overlap, disappear, and/or get mixed up.

    The funnel chart is one type of visualization that’s especially prone to this, even with just a few data marks. While working on one, I came up with a solution to keep all the labels nice and clear, no matter what the data throws at it. Bonus: it’s flexible enough for easy customization!

    (more…)

  • Deep Cleaning Barcharts – part 2: Punctuated Bar Chart

    [part of the ‘Datafam London 2024 series]

    In part 1 we took a look at a basic bar chart, and ended with the lollypop chart. A fun chart with one major issue: the dot obfuscates the real datapoint.

    Punctuated Bar Chart

    One solution for it the Punctuated Bar Chart:
    We highlight the end of each bar, instead of enlarging the endpoint.

    (more…)

  • Deep Cleaning Barcharts – part 1: the basics

    [part of the ‘Datafam London 2024 series]

    On DataFam 2024 in London I gave a presentation / workshop on deep cleaning dashboards.

    Why cleaning dashboards?

    • Make it look better ▶ Users want to use it
    • Less clutter on your dashboard ▶ Less clutter in your brain
    • Making your dashboard more actionable ▶ Focusing on what’s important.

    Dashboard cleaning is about: Removing, adding , re-arranging, and replacing stuff. In Tableau, it’s about: Table calculations, extra sheets, changing images, talking to users, being critical to yourself, … Is hard work – and a lot of fun!

    (more…)