🎨 Choosing the Right Chart: It’s Not About Looks, It’s About Logic

Let’s be honest—most of us have been guilty of throwing together a chart that looked good, even if it wasn’t the best fit. I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all mashed together a pie chart at some point just because it’s colorful and "kind of works."

But here’s the deal: visualizations are decisions in disguise. The better your visual, the faster your audience understands what matters—and what to do about it.

So how do you know what type of chart to use?

🧠 Start With the Question, Not the Chart

Before you even touch your charting tool, ask yourself:

“What is the one thing I want someone to understand here?”

Forget the chart types for a minute. If you’re showing:

• A trend over time → think line charts

• A comparison between items → go bars, not pies

• A relationship between two things → scatter plots are your best friend

• A breakdown of parts → try stacked columns (and save the pies for dessert)
  

It’s not rocket science—it’s communication science.

👥 Consider Who You’re Talking To

You wouldn’t explain data to your CEO the same way you would to a data scientist on your team, right?

• Execs want quick takeaways and visual clarity.

• Analysts might appreciate the nuance and layers.

• Clients? They need storytelling, not just numbers.
  

So don’t just design for the data—design for the reader.

🔢 Think in Data Types, Not Just Chart Types

Here’s the trick that makes everything click: Your data knows which chart it wants to be. You just need to listen.

If your data is:

• Categorical (e.g. product types): Bar chart

• Numerical: Histogram or scatter plot

• Time-based: Line chart

• Geographic: Map
  

The shape of your data should shape your choice. No need to force it.

🙅‍♂️ Please, Stop Using Pie Charts for Everything

If I had a dollar for every pie chart used to compare more than three things, I’d start my own dashboard startup.

They’re often more confusing than helpful—especially if there are tiny slivers involved. Bar charts are just cleaner, faster, and more honest when it comes to comparisons.

💬 The One-Second Rule

When someone looks at your chart, they should be able to say:

“Ah, I get what you’re trying to show me.”

If they have to think about it for more than 3 seconds, you’ve lost them. Simplify it. Cut the clutter. Make the insight punch through the screen.

👋 Wrap-Up: Your Chart Isn’t a Decoration—It’s a Decision Shortcut

The next time you’re building a dashboard or report, don’t start by scrolling through chart types. Start with the question, the audience, and the kind of data you’re working with.

Then ask:

“What would make this insight undeniable?”

That’s the chart you want.