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Data Visualization

A Beginners Guide To Data Visualization (Hot Tips For Creating Stand-Out Charts)

Samantha Pratt Lile
 | 
September 6, 2022
 | 
7
 min read
A Beginners Guide To Data Visualization (Hot Tips For Creating Stand-Out Charts)A Beginners Guide To Data Visualization (Hot Tips For Creating Stand-Out Charts)
Table of Contents

Data visualizations are essential elements of any effective presentation. Audiences are swayed by data, but presenting too much raw data also can overwhelm viewers. Data visualizations, on the other hand, allow large amounts of data to be displayed in a digestible format that is attractive, engaging and functional.

It's not uncommon for the average presentation designer to avoid integrating infographics and charts as the task can seem a daunting one. But with the right software tools, even the most amateur slide deck creator can master the art of beautifully powerful data visualizations.

What is data visualization?

So, what exactly is data visualization? The reporting tool is defined as a representation of information in the form of a picture, diagram or chart. It’s also known as a visual representation of information. Through data visualization like an infographic or a chart, professionals from any industry can help their audiences understand the context and significance of presented data.

How can data help you tell a story?

Can data help you tell a story? How can you turn a set of data into visualizations and narratives? After all, by themselves, pages of numeric data don’t hold a lot of meaning to anyone who isn’t a computer. It’s no wonder why 88% of companies’ data remains unanalyzed.

By transforming raw data into data visualizations like charts and infographics, all of that numeric information can create a story that makes an impact. One of the oldest forms of human communication, storytelling is a powerful medium that has helped people understand the world in which they live. In professional settings, data storytelling helps teams set, understand and accomplish their goals.

How do you use data to tell a story? Start by finding the story within the data to determine exactly what message you hope to tell. Choose the data that matters most to support your objectives, and search for insights within the data. Only then can you begin to create data visualization that tells your story in a digestible way.

Why is choosing the right chart so important?

A chart can transform lifeless data into an informative picture that engages audiences. Without the right chart, however, you’ll have a much harder time communicating the intended message in your presentation. While numbers won’t lie, they definitely can be misinterpreted.

If a presentation designer chooses the wrong type of chart or infographic, the resulting data visualization can result in misunderstood messages. By choosing the correct type of chart, however, audiences can better comprehend the data’s story, which can lead to quicker and better decision-making.

With such a variety of charts and infographics to choose from, how do presentation designers select the right graphic to illustrate their data? It might be tempting to stick with the same reliable options like bar graphs and pie charts (and these effective old standbys certainly have their place), but that decision also makes for some extremely boring presentations.

Instead, a savvy presenter will learn about multiple charts and infographics, including everything from cycle charts and scattergraphs to tables and Venn diagrams, and identify exactly how each chart conveys data. By understanding the different types of charts, a presenter can utilize the available data visualization tools.

How to create data visualization charts for presentations

Once you’ve established the best chart or infographic to communicate your specific data, how do you create a data visualization for your presentation? You could spend hours designing a spreadsheet with a corresponding infographic, or you could create a professional-quality chart in minutes using a PowerPoint-alternative software tool with user-friendly templates.

Presentation designers can save time and plenty of headaches by using Beautiful.ai to add data visualization charts to their slides in just a few simple steps. Beautiful.ai users can take advantage of an AI-based design assistant that adjusts their content using professional principles of good design, creating powerful presentations every time. In fact, all the presentation designer needs to do with their Smart Slide template is enter their data and watch as artificial intelligence creates the corresponding infographic. 

Ready to create data visualization charts for your presentations designed with Beautiful.ai? Just follow a few simple steps:

1. Start with a template

Beautiful.ai features a wide assortment of Smart Slide templates, including templates for many of the most popular charts and infographics. Just choose the data visualization that best represents your information.

2. Toggle between variations

Many Beautiful.ai Smart Slide templates are available in multiple variations, and users can simply toggle between the variations to find which one is best suited to their presentation. Testing different variations and layouts is low-risk because you don’t have to start from scratch and won’t lose your content. 

3. Choose contrasting colors

Infographics are typically best presented using bold, contrasting colors that will capture audience members’ attention and keep them engaged. You can set a custom color scheme that automatically applies to each slide in your Beautiful.ai presentation, or you can select specific colors for your chart.

4. Add elements for context

You can customize the slides in your Beuatiful.ai presentation, including charts and infographics, with additional visual elements to engage your audience and add context to your data. You can import your own graphics or choose from Beautiful.ai’s massive library of free stock photos, logos and icons.

5. Animate the infographic

Animations are a great way to recapture your audience’s focus and keep viewers engaged with your presentation. Beautiful.ai makes it simple to animate your data visualizations when you start with a Smart Slide template. You can choose the timing of the animation, as well as how it’s activated, and you even can set the speed of the animated infographic.

Samantha Pratt Lile

Samantha Pratt Lile

Samantha is an independent journalist, editor, blogger and content manager. Examples of her published work can be found at sites including the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and Buzzfeed.

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