Unfortunately, ‘cool’ and ‘data’ don’t often go hand-in-hand. There’s nothing particularly exciting about pie charts and line graphs. But this does not mean your web design is doomed.
Striking the right balance between instant visual appeal and data clarity is of critical importance for businesses, but a lot of amateur web design agencies end up sacrificing the data itself so that it is presented in an attractive manner. Instead, the main objective should always be to find ways to successfully communicate the stories that are hidden in the depths of the spreadsheet.
Experienced web designers can free data from the restraints of the tabulated raw format, and put it in a manner that enables viewers to gather insights, recognize trends and comprehend complicated stories without the need for words. You can visit https://www.ribbitbusiness.com/ for expert designers who can assist.
Unfortunately, there are not many web designers today that are achieving this. Instead, they are dumbing down the data because they only care about the piece’s overall aesthetic. This is why we have an infographic culture that contains low information-to-pixel density at the moment. Users are encouraged to focus on the visual elements and engage with them, rather than engaging with the actual data, and this is where the industry is largely going wrong.
So, how do we achieve infographics that are beautiful and informative? There are numerous examples on the web of data provided in an effective, efficient and visually appealing way – they aren’t all bad! However, you will find that they all have one thing in common, and this is simplicity. Web design experts need to present data in a manner that is concise and clear, free from most embellishments and distractions. The main focus needs to be making sure that the story is clearly communicated.
Web design choices in regards to typography, layout, shape, and color are critical, as they will impact how easy it is for viewers to understand information. We should not think about what is going to look ‘cool’ – we should think about what is going to be the easiest to digest. For example, colors will be chosen to highlight important insights, rather than being chosen simply because they look nice. The truth is, data does not need to be dressed up to make it more interesting. Common chart types should not be cast aside as dull alternatives; they can be more effective in conveying complex information especially due to their simplicity.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the relationship between web design and data. It can often be tempting to dilute complex data in favor of intricate and interesting design, but, in reality, this does not achieve anything. Telling the data’s complex story in a clear manner is always the overall goal.
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