Deviation Correlation Ranking Distribution Change over Time Magnitude Part-to-whole Spatial Flow

Emphasise variations (+/-) from a fixed Show the relationship between two or
reference point. Typically the reference more variables. Be mindful that, unless
point is zero but it can also be a target you tell them otherwise, many readers
or a long-term average. Can also be will assume the relationships you show
used to show sentiment them to be causal (i.e. one causes the
(positive/neutral/negative). other).
Example FT uses Example FT uses
Trade surplus/deficit, climate change Inflation and unemployment, income
and life expectancy
Use where an item’s position in an
ordered list is more important than its
absolute or relative value. Don’t be
afraid to highlight the points of interest.
Example FT uses
Wealth, deprivation, league tables,
constituency election results
Show values in a dataset and how often
they occur. The shape (or ‘skew’) of a
distribution can be a memorable way of
highlighting the lack of uniformity or
equality in the data.
Example FT uses
Income distribution, population
(age/sex) distribution, revealing
inequality
Give emphasis to changing trends.
These can be short (intra-day)
movements or extended series
traversing decades or centuries:
Choosing the correct time period is
important to provide suitable context
for the reader.
Example FT uses
Share price movements, economic time
series, sectoral changes in a market
Show size comparisons. These can be
relative (just being able to see
larger/bigger) or absolute (need to see
fine differences). Usually these show a
‘counted’ number (for example, barrels,
dollars or people) rather than a
calculated rate or per cent.
Example FT uses
Commodity production, market
capitalisation, volumes in general
Show how a single entity can be broken Aside from locator maps only used
down into its component elements. If when precise locations or geographical
the reader’s interest is solely in the size patterns in data are more important to
of the components, consider a the reader than anything else.
magnitude-type chart instead.
Example FT uses
Example FT uses Population density, natural resource
Fiscal budgets, company structures, locations, natural disaster risk/impact,
national election results catchment areas, variation in election
results
Show the reader volumes or intensity of
movement between two or more states
or conditions. These might be logical
sequences or geographical locations.
Example FT uses
Movement of funds, trade, migrants,
lawsuits, information; relationship
graphs.

Diverging bar Scatterplot Ordered bar Histogram Line Column Stacked column/bar Basic choropleth (rate/ratio) Sankey
A simple standard bar The standard way to Standard bar charts The standard way to The standard way to The standard way to A simple way of The standard approach Shows changes in flows
chart that can handle show the relationship display the ranks of show a statistical show a changing time compare the size of showing part-to-whole for putting data on a from one condition to at
both negative and between two continuous values much more distribution - keep the series. If data are things. Must always relationships but can be map – should always be least one other; good for
positive magnitude variables, each of which easily when sorted gaps between columns irregular, consider start at 0 on the axis. difficult to read with rates rather than totals tracing the eventual
values. has its own axis. into order. small to highlight the markers to represent more than a few and use a sensible base outcome of a complex
‘shape’ of the data. data points. components. geography. process.

Diverging stacked bar Column + line timeline Ordered column Dot plot Column Bar Marimekko Proportional symbol (count/magnitude) Waterfall
Perfect for presenting A good way of See above. A simple way of Columns work well for See above. Good when A good way of Use for totals rather Designed to show the
survey results which showing the showing the change or showing change over the data are not time showing the size and than rates – be wary sequencing of data
involve sentiment (eg relationship between range (min/max) of time - but usually best series and labels have proportion of data at that small differences through a flow
disagree/neutral/ an amount (columns) data across multiple with only one series of long category names. the same time – as in data will be hard to process, typically
agree). and a rate (line). categories. data at a time. long as the data are see. budgets. Can include
not too complicated. +/- components.

Spine Connected scatterplot Ordered proportional symbol Dot strip plot Column + line timeline Paired column Pie Flow map Chord
Splits a single value Usually used to show Use when there are big Good for showing A good way of As per standard A common way of For showing A complex but
into two contrasting how the relationship variations between individual values in a showing the column but allows for showing part-to-whole unambiguous powerful diagram
components (eg between 2 variables values and/or seeing distribution, can be a relationship over time multiple series. Can data – but be aware that movement across a which can illustrate
male/female). has changed over fine differences problem when too between an amount become tricky to read it’s difficult to accurately map. 2-way flows (and net
time. between data is not so many dots have the (columns) and a rate with more than 2 compare the size of the winner) in a matrix.
important. same value. (line). series. segments.

Surplus/deficit filled line Bubble Dot strip plot Barcode plot Slope Paired bar Donut Contour map Network
The shaded area of Like a scatterplot, but Dots placed in order Like dot strip plots, Good for showing See above. Similar to a pie chart – For showing areas of Used for showing the
these charts allows a adds additional detail on a strip are a good for displaying all changing data as long but the centre can be a equal value on a map. strength and
balance to be shown – by sizing the circles space-efficient the data in a table, as the data can be good way of making Can use deviation inter-connectedness
either against a according to a third method of laying out they work best when simplified into 2 or 3 space to include more colour schemes for of relationships of
baseline or between variable. ranks across multiple highlighting individual points without missing information about the showing +/- values varying types.
two series. categories. values. a key part of story. data (eg total).

XY heatmap Slope Boxplot Area chart Marimekko Treemap Equalised cartogram

A good way of showing Perfect for showing Summarise multiple Use with care – these A good way of Use for hierarchical Converting each unit on
the patterns between 2 how ranks have distributions by are good at showing showing the size and part-to-whole a map to a regular and
categories of data, less changed over time or showing the median changes to total, but proportion of data at relationships; can be equally-sized shape –
effective at showing fine vary between (centre) and range of seeing change in the same time – as difficult to read when good for representing
differences in amounts. categories. the data components can be long as the data are there are many small voting regions with
very difficult. not too complicated. segments. equal value.

Lollipop Violin plot Candlestick Proportional symbol Voronoi Scaled cartogram (value)
Lollipops draw more Similar to a box plot but Usually focused on Use when there are big A way of turning Stretching and
attention to the data more effective with day-to-day activity, variations between points into areas – any shrinking a map so
value than standard complex distributions these charts show values and/or seeing point within each area that each area is sized
bar/column and can (data that cannot be opening/closing and fine differences is closer to the central according to a
also show rank and summarised with simple high/low points of between data is not so point than any other particular value.
value effectively. average). each day. important. centroid.

Bump Population pyramid Fan chart (projections) Isotype (pictogram) Arc Dot density
Effective for showing A standard way for Use to show the Excellent solution in A hemicycle, often Used to show the
changing rankings showing the age and sex uncertainty in future some instances – use used for visualising location of individual
across multiple dates. breakdown of a projections - usually only with whole parliamentary events/locations –
For large datasets, population distribution; this grows the further numbers (do not slice composition by make sure to annotate
consider grouping lines effectively, back to back forward to projection. off an arm to represent number of seats. any patterns the
using colour. histograms. a decimal). reader should see.

Cumulative curve Connected scatterplot Lollipop Gridplot Heat map

A good way of showing A good way of showing Lollipop charts draw Good for showing % Grid-based data values
how unequal a changing data for two more attention to the information, they work mapped with an

Visual
distribution is: y axis is variables whenever data value than best when used on intensity colour scale.
always cumulative there is a relatively standard bar/column – whole numbers and As choropleth map –
frequency, x axis is clear pattern of does not have to start at work well in small but not snapped to an
always a measure. progression. zero (but preferable). multiple layout form. admin/political unit.

Frequency polygons Calendar heatmap Radar Venn

For displaying multiple A great way of showing A space-efficient way of Generally only used
showing value of

Vocabulary
distributions of data. temporal patterns for schematic
Like a regular line (daily, weekly, monthly) multiple variables – but representation.
chart, best limited to a – at the expense of make sure they are
maximum of 3 or 4 showing precision in organised in a way that
datasets. quantity. makes sense to reader.

Beeswarm Priestley timeline Parallel coordinates Waterfall

Use to emphasise Great when date and An alternative to radar Can be useful for
individual points in a duration are key charts – again, the showing part-to-whole
distribution. Points can elements of the story arrangement of the relationships where
be sized to an in the data. variables is important. some of the
additional variable. Usually benefits from components are
Best with medium- highlighting values. negative.
sized datasets
Circle timeline Bullet
Good for showing Good for showing a
discrete values of measurement against
varying size across the context of a target

Read the FT for free

multiple categories or performance range.
(eg earthquakes by
continent).

Vertical timeline Grouped symbol

Add fresh examples and insights to your work, make more Presents time on the Y
axis. Good for
An alternative to
bar/column charts when
informed career choices, and feel more confident managing displaying detailed
time series that work
being able to count
data or highlight
money with the Financial Times. especially well when
scrolling on mobile.
individual elements is
useful.

Teachers can register your school and students can create Seismogram
a login by scanning here. Another alternative to
the circle timeline for
showing series where
there are big
variations in the data.

Streamgraph

ft.com/schoolsarefree A type of area chart;

use when seeing
changes in proportions
over time is more
important than
individual values © Financial Times 2016-2019. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
FT graphic: Alan Smith; Chris Campbell; Ian Bott; Liz Faunce; Graham Parrish; Billy Ehrenberg-Shannon; Paul McCallum; Martin Stabe Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Inspired by the Graphic Continuum by Jon Schwabish and Severino Ribecca