Chart Smarter with a Chart Library

Nov 18

The Justice Innovation Lab’s data visualization style guide contains a comprehensive section on chart types. The first page in the chapter has an overview to get the user situated on chart types, and how to choose a chart appropriate to their story. Within each chart type, such as bars, the guide contains visual examples of the chart type in question, but also variations in style and color, so that users can see various use cases “in action.”

Each chart type is supplemented by a description of when to use, and guidance that refers to the figures in the page to demonstrate its point. While many guidelines opt for a do-this-not-that format, The Justice Innovation Lab has chosen to instead include variations on what should or can be done, so that the user can choose the best style for their use case.