Format, align, repeat: three steps to master chart labels

#32: Label formatting

Graph by the author

We rarely see data from different sources presented in a single chart. Consolidating and presenting the information insightfully without overloading the reader with too many details is challenging. We must accept that some simplifications are inevitable to keep the chart clean and understandable. Otherwise, we risk creating chaos. One way of simplifying is by working on consistent label formatting. Keep them simple, keep them consistent, and put all additional information in the footnote. As harsh as it sounds, only a few readers are interested in the smallest detail.

Take the below chart as an example. Our World in Data team has done tremendous work plotting child mortality data across different societies on a chart. The end result is information-dense but also barely legible. Many levels of information are mixed up — aggregations are hard to distinguish from unaggregated data points. Additionally, the chart is text heavy and forces us to read rather than visually scan the data.

Chart recreated by the author. Source of the original infographic: The long-run history of child mortality, Our World in Data

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