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Shaffer 4C - Clean Examples

The document provides examples of how to create clean and effective data visualizations based on the Shaffer 4 C's principles. It demonstrates how to remove unnecessary elements from default charts in Excel like gridlines, rotated text, and borders. It also shows how to order and group data logically, fine tune colors, add contextual elements like target lines, and include thorough titles and labels. The examples illustrate best practices for visualizing data clearly such as using bar charts instead of pie charts and stacking bars to show parts of a whole.

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1K views

Shaffer 4C - Clean Examples

The document provides examples of how to create clean and effective data visualizations based on the Shaffer 4 C's principles. It demonstrates how to remove unnecessary elements from default charts in Excel like gridlines, rotated text, and borders. It also shows how to order and group data logically, fine tune colors, add contextual elements like target lines, and include thorough titles and labels. The examples illustrate best practices for visualizing data clearly such as using bar charts instead of pie charts and stacking bars to show parts of a whole.

Uploaded by

saggitarian
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Shaffer 4 C's of Data Visualization "Clean" Examples Default in Excel

25 20 15 10 5 0 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Default in Excel

Series1

Series1

Category A

Category I

Category D

Category C

Category G

Category B

Category E

Remove/Lighten Gridlines and lower # of Y-Axis Tick Marks


30 20 10 0 Category B Category A Category C 30 20 Category Series1 10 0 Series1

Category A

Category E

Category F

Category H Category H

Category F

Category C

Category I

Category D

Category B

Avoid Rotated Text


30 20 10 0 Category A Category B Category C

Rotate Chart Instead


0 Category A 10 20 30

Category

Series1

Category B Category C Category D

Category G

Removed Series Name

30 20 10 0

Category I Category G Category E Category C Category A 0 10 20 30

Category J

Category J

The Shaffer 4 C's of Data Visualization "Clean" Examples Order Bars


Category B Category C Category D Category A 0 10 20 30 0 Category G Category B Category J Category C Category E Category D Category H Category A Category I Category F

Order Bars
10 20 30

Removed tick marks on y-axis

Note - Labels in units of 10 with gridlines. Added minor gridlines and minor ticks in units of 5. Ordering Data adds context unless a specific order is required. Ex. North, South, East, West (save alphabetical order for reference tables) Remove Border
0 Category B Category C Category D Category A 0 10 20 30 Category G Category B Category J Category C Category E Category D Category H Category A Category I Category F

Remove Border
10 20 30

If reasonable number of bars consider data labels instead of axis labels


Category B Category C Category D Category A 14 12 17 23 Category B Category C Category D Category A 17 14 12 23

Category B Category C Category D Category A 14 12 17

23

Category B Category C Category D Category A

23 17 14 12

The Shaffer 4 C's of Data Visualization "Clean" Examples Fine Tune Colors (ex. Dark Gray vs. Black)
Category B Category C Category D Category A 14 12 17 23

Add Context - Ex. add Target Line, Expected Value or Average


Category B Category C Category D Category A 17 14 12
Target 16%

23

Tip - Add target lines and text at last step to avoid reformatting of chart. Using a dotted line or different color will help contrast the target line vs. a gridline.

Avoid Stark Borders on Bars


Category B Category C Category D Category A 17 14 12 23 Category B Category C Category D Category A

Avoid 3D Bars

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Avoid Narrow Bars


Category B Category C Category D Category A 14 12 17 23

Avoid Connected Bars (unless distribution)


Category B Category C Category D Category A 14 12 17 23

Note - distributions are typically graphed as vertical bars, connected and with a border.

The Shaffer 4 C's of Data Visualization "Clean" Examples Avoid Repeated Text. Example, if "Category" were truly repeated vs. unique names. Example with y-axis and one highlighted data point. 3 labels vs. 10 Data points.
26 20 10 0 G B J C E D H A I F Category

Example with 10 data points and no y-axis.

26 23 18 17 16

14

14

12

11 7

Category

Add Title (tell the story) Include Labels ($, # or %), Data Source, Date, Author, etc. Bananas exceeded target by 7 units in 2011
(# of units sold)

Bananas Apples Grapes Oranges

23 17 14 12
Target 16 units

Source - 2011 Actual Sales from BI Tool Created by Jeffrey A. Shaffer 2/17/2011

The Shaffer 4 C's of Data Visualization "Clean" Examples Sometimes it's necessary to show a % of a total. Example, Bananas as a % of total fruit. Avoid Pie Charts
Bananas Apples Grapes Oranges

18% 35% 21% 26%

Oranges 18% Grapes 21% Apples 26%

Bananas 35%

Use bar charts for easier comparison and 100% stacked-bar chart for part to whole Bananas exceeded target by 7 units in 2011
(# of units sold)

Bananas

23

Apples

17

Grapes

14

Oranges

12
Target 16 units

Bananas represent 35% of total unit sales Bananas 35%


Source - 2011 Actual Sales from BI Tool Created by Jeffrey A. Shaffer 2/17/2011

Apples 26%

Grapes 21%

Oranges 18%

The Shaffer 4 C's of Data Visualization "Clean" Examples Here is an excellent example of these practices in use taken from: TDWI Best Practices Report entitled "Transforming Finance" by Wayne Eckerson

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