Data Visualization

5 Design Tips for More Impactful Charts & Graphs

Beautiful.ai Team
 | 
January 28, 2025
 | 
5
 min read
5 Design Tips for More Impactful Charts & Graphs5 Design Tips for More Impactful Charts & Graphs
Table of Contents

Data can be complicated and misunderstood. Instead of getting tangled in numbers, presenters can leverage data visualization to transform stale metrics into actionable insights. Data visualization helps transform more complex numbers into easy-to-read charts and graphs.

Effective data visualization is important because it breaks down complex data and extracts meaningful insights in a more digestible way. Displaying the data visually helps audiences make sense of the information with a higher chance of retention. Using charts and infographics can help reveal insights that are not obvious in raw data, which encourages audiences to take action. 

In Beautiful.ai, data visualization is accessible to everyone regardless of design skills. We recognize that data can be tedious, and inputting metrics into a chart or graph can take time. Features like our Smart Slide templates, and data import and linking, make it easier than ever to create charts and graphs in a snap. 

Keep these five design tips in mind for your next data-rich presentation. 

1. Add motion 

Data can quickly overwhelm those that aren’t analytical thinkers. Instead of trying to make sense of the numbers, your audience may find themselves disengaged which will impact how they receive the rest of the presentation. To avoid losing your audience to data smog you need to make your slides more engaging.

Adding animations to your data visualization slides brings your numbers to life. With animations you can control how and when your audience is consuming and engaging with your data. To surface the key metrics in bite-size nuggets, you can choose a sequence that progresses when you click the screen or stagger the timing for more impact. 

2. Use colors strategically

The colors you use in your presentation design have a direct impact on the success of the deck. While branding is important, you should also consider color psychology and legibility when deciding which colors to use. 

In data visualization, you’ll want to choose colors that distinguish different data sets without overwhelming the audience. Contrasting colors help differentiate data and can be used to establish trends or patterns over time. Intentional colors should provide enough contrast so that audiences can pull out the key metrics and most important information at a glance, making the data much more digestible. 

3. The right charts at the right time

There is in fact a right time and place for different charts— and understanding when and how to use them is half the battle. If you don’t use the right charts, it can have the opposite effect and make your data even more confusing. Understanding your data means understanding which charts will help drive your point home.

Don’t panic, our ultimate guide to data visualization can help inspire your decision. 

4. Use multiple charts for a big data dump

Sometimes one chart simply isn’t enough, and a bigger data dump may require multiple infographics on one slide to tell the full story. Beautiful.ai’s flex grid lets you add, drag, resize, and position text, images, and charts with precision. This flexibility is perfect for designing data-rich slides that warrant more creative layouts. You can stack charts to compare growth over time, or mix-and-match cells to provide more context and call out key takeaways.  

5. Size matters

You heard it here first: size matters. When you’re designing your data visualization slides, it’s important to pay attention to the size and placement of your charts. The text and numbers in your chart title, legend, y-axis and x-axis, or values should be clear and legible. If you add too much information, it can compromise the readability of the slide as a whole. An effective data visualization slide will lead with the most important information— big and bold— so the audience doesn’t have to decode the clutter. 

Beautiful.ai Team

Beautiful.ai Team

Beautiful.ai is an AI-powered presentation tool that makes it fast and easy for anyone to build clean, modern and professionally designed slides that they can be proud of.

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