Research Guides: Data Visualization (Data Viz): Creating Visualizations

Creating Visualizations

Creating and designing a visualization typically involves a process that starts off with an original research question followed by finding, collecting, or gathering your data, cleaning and organizing your dataset so that it is in the correct format to be finally visualized. Often times this is an iterative process that may involve

question > find/collect/gather data > clean and organize data > visualize data

Tips and Tricks

What visualization type / chart / graph should I choose?

After collecting, organizing, and processing your data, you will have to figure out how to best visualize your data. Don't fret, there are many "chart choosers" out there that can help you out. The most important thing is finding what insights and observations you want to highlight in your dataset. Trying out several different kinds of visualization types (chart types) in an exploratory manner will be extremely beneficial and allow you to reflect and iterate on creating the best visualization possible to communicate your message.

Juicebox Chart Chooser
Data Visualization Catalogue - This site is sort of an encyclopedia for data visualization types. There are several ways to use it. Certain viz types will have their own strengths and weaknesses. You can search by function (relationships, parts to whole, distribution, flow, etc). When you go to a specific viz type, you can also get a generalized breakdown and explanation of the parts of the visualization. The links to the software you can use to create said visualization type are also very helpful because you may sometimes need specialized tools.
Data Viz Project - Similar to Data Visualization Catalogue, this site offers ways to sort viz types by function, shape, family, etc. You will find better examples of each visualization type (compared to Data Visualization Catalogue) as well as the proper input / data formatting needed to create each visualization.

Chart Suggestions - A Thought Starter

This is a commonly recommended flow chart for helping you decide what visualization type to use for your dataset. it starts off with a key question you should be asking which is "What would I like to show?". Use this a starting point for your chart decision making instead of a be-all-end-all. The original version of this flowchart comes from here.

What general data viz principles should I follow?

Fry, B. (2008). Visualizing data. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media, Inc.
Seven Stages of Visualizing Data (p. 5): Acquire, Parse, Filter, Mine, Represent, Refine, Interact
Planning and Designing Effective Data Visualizations - Has links to slides and notes from Noah Iliinsky
How to Be a Data Visualization Star
Visual Properties/Cues/Encodings - If you want to really understand how visualizations help us communicate data, looking at the different visual properties/cues, and how they are used to visually encode information will be useful. The differences between each visual property/cue and how they are related to specific charts and graphs will help you know when a variable might be or not be appropriately encoded.
Graphs on Multiple Slides
Squint Test
Design Principles for Effective Data Visualization - https://www.promptcloud.com/blog/design-principles-for-effective-data-visualization/
Data Visualization Principles: Lessons from Tufte - https://moz.com/blog/data-visualization-principles-lessons-from-tufte
https://www.easel.ly/blog/types-of-graphs-and-charts-for-visualizing-data/amp/

Ohio State nav bar

Research Commons

Connect. Collaborate. Contribute.

Data Visualization (Data Viz)

Creating Visualizations

Tips and Tricks

What visualization type / chart / graph should I choose?

What general data viz principles should I follow?