ColorWise

Chapter 6. Data Visualization Color Tips

Blending colors together in the form of data visualization is a dance, something subtle, not the equivalent of a new age painter hurtling a gallon of paint on a blank canvas and calling it art. You are looking to influence the overall feel of the creation and give it depth. Think about the definition of the colors you are using. Bright, airy colors like yellow and orange can promote a cheerful sense in someone, bringing happiness, light, and joy into their mood. If you need calm and confidence, blue comes to mind. If you’re trying to deliver the excitement of a new product, you can’t go wrong with bright red.

Use Contrasting Color

Don’t keep using the same color over and over again, regardless of if it’s the one most often associated with your brand. If all plotted points are light blue, what’s to make one stand out from all the rest? The key here is contrast, as we’ll discuss at length a bit later in this chapter.

Contrast between two colors can make a world of difference in the look and significance of your data. If some elements are less important than others, don’t waste a color on them; mark them with gray to ensure your important points are accented and everything else does not stand out.

Let’s say we are looking at the popularity of specific vegetables in our fictitious supermarket. The head of the sales department wants to know specifically how “lettuce” popularity trends look over the past few years (Figure 6-1). We can ...