16. General Design Tips

Bad visuals can be avoided by:

1. Maintaining a large data-ink ratio and removing unnecessary items from visuals.
   
   
2. Choosing visual encodings that work to highlight insights.
   
   
3. Maintaining data Integrity in the visual.

For explanatory visuals:

1. Focus the audience's attention on the insight you want them to act on.
2. Use color only when necessary. Simple is often better.
3. Tell a story. More on this ahead!