hello@datalabsagency.com
logo
Datalabs Agency
En
  • De
  • Ar
0
logo
  • Data Viz
    • Power BI Dashboards Designs
    • Tableau Dashboards Designs
    • Style Guides
      • Power BI Style Guides
      • Tableau Style Guides
    • Infographic Reports
    • Animated Data Videos
    • Interactive Data Visualizations
    • Maps & Cartography
    • Digital Annual Reports & Microsites
  • Workshops
    • Our Six Main Workshops
      • Introduction to Data Visualization: Tools & Techniques Workshop
      • Designing Great Business Dashboards Workshop
      • Infographic & Report Design Workshop
      • Creative Data Presentations with PowerPoint
      • Visual Storytelling for Government Workshop
      • Creative Power BI Dashboard Design
    • Online Courses
      • An Introduction to Data Visualization & Storytelling
      • Designing Great Dashboards
  • Case Studies
  • Shop
    • Ecommerce Products
      • Power BI Templates
      • Power BI Theme and Style Guide
      • An Introduction to Data Visualization and Storytelling Course
      • Designing Great Dashboards Course
      • Data Visualization Consultant
    • Login
      • My account
  • About
    • Blog
    • Otto Ottinger
  • Contact
Data Visualization Style Guide Infographic 0
Brand Guidelines for Data: Data Visualization Format of the Year (First Place)
06 July 2023
0
Types of Data Visualization – The Most Common Charts, Graphs, Formats & Tools
06 July 2023
Articles
Data Design Principles: Repetition, Alignment, Symmetry in Data Visualization
July 6, 2023 by Datalabs in Articles

The Use of Repetition, Alignment, & Symmetry in Data Visualization Design

cartoon image

We have come to the end of our Data Design Principles series. In this final post, let’s ask the most basic question – what exactly is data viz?

Simply put, data visualization compares multiple values and puts the information into context. The process comes in two steps:

  1. Discover: the collection and organization of data
  2. Communication: the planning and delivery of a communication strategy to communicate the data to the target audience

The second part involves an intricate design process involving colors, hierarchy, and photography, which we have thoroughly talked about. There are hundreds of ways to visualize data.

 

“Of all methods for analyzing and communicating statistical information, well-designed data graphics are usually the simplest and at the same time the most powerful.”

– Edward Tufte

 

The human brain has been dubbed a “pattern recognition machine”. Good data visualization should be understandable, memorable, and actionable. For designers, it is crucial to simplify the data, so it’s easier to translate it to something visual that viewers can understand and decipher without issue.

There are some tricks to making your data viz understandable and memorable, that is, by designing with repetition, alignment, and symmetry in mind.

Design repetition graphic, repeated triangle patterns used in the background of a data visualization

Design Repetition with Data: Keep Alignment & Symmetry in Mind

1. Repetition Principle in Design

Repetition is not repeating the exact same visual elements throughout a design, but reusing similar elements to make a cohesive piece of work. For some design work that is complex, like data visualization, using repetition will create a sense of unity and consistency, strengthening the design.

Some say that repetition in design is a sort of brainwashing – that the more people see it, the more they will be familiar with it, thus remembering it better. It is human nature to be attracted to familiarity.

In communicating data, repetition can be reflected by using similar chart types, shapes, or colors in the design. By using repetition, designers are non-verbally creating an association between the elements, communicating to the viewers that the different content is related to one another.

2. The Principle of Alignment in Design

Alignment refers to lining up the graphic elements in a type of grid — either vertically or horizontally.

Horizontal alignment includes:

  1. Flush-left → reference point is the left margin
  2. Flush-right → reference point is the right margin
  3. Centered → reference point is an imaginary line in the middle of the page
  4. Fully justified → aims for smooth justification on all the margins also called forced justification.

With vertical alignment, the rules are pretty much the same but in a vertical sense – either top, bottom or middle (center).

So why would we need grids? Well, we don’t actually need it, but it aids in the placement of text and graphics on a design.

3. Symmetry in Graphic Design

Our brains are wired to love symmetry — we get a certain satisfaction when things are in order and organized. In design, symmetry offers an ordered approach, making viewers find elements more readily. This is also called balance. There are two different ways of achieving balance:

Formal balance

Used in very simple and specific layouts with little use elements. This is when the design has a very specific objective. For example, the design of Google’s homepage utilizes formal balance. If Google had a busy-looking main page, users might get distracted when wanting to research something – which defeats the purpose of Google as a search engine.

Informal balance

This type of balance accepts a certain level of asymmetry in the design, albeit with a recognizable genuine effort to assert the balance of content on either side of the vertical/horizontal axis. Thus, the designer isn’t constrained to keep a strict symmetry, yet still tries to utilize the rules of balance and insert a somewhat even distribution of elements.

 

We hope you’ve been enjoying the Data Design Principles Series.

Keeping design repetition, alignment, and balance in mind will make your visual work stronger and more aesthetically pleasing. These design principles are just guidelines, though. Good designers shouldn’t be afraid to go their own way, following their own instincts.

Now go forth and design!

What should we write about next? Tweet us on Twitter and connect with us on Facebook. We’d love to hear from you!

0 Comments
  • best practices
  • data visualization
  • graphic-design
0 Like!
Share
Datalabs

Learn Data Visualization

See Our Data Visualization & Storytelling Workshops

Learn Online: Intro to Data Viz & Storytelling Course

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Shop Online for Data Visualization

  • Image of a man using our Power BI templates to design a report
    Power BI Templates
    Select options
  • Image of our custom Power BI Theme on a computer
    Power BI Theme and Style Guide
    Select options
  • An Introduction to Data Visualization and Storytelling Course
    An Introduction to Data Visualization and Storytelling Course
    Add to cart
  • Photo of a data visualization consultant advising clients and helping solve design issues.
    Data Visualization Consultant
    Read more
  • Designing Great Dashboards Course
    Designing Great Dashboards Course
    Add to cart

Style Guides for Data?

A photo of our data viz style guide for Microsoft Power BI

From Our Blog

  • Data Viz Instagram
  • Examples of Information Visualization: 6 of the Best
  • Infographic Designer Freelance
  • Case-study: Victoria University Dashboards & Infographic Reports
  • Department of Education and Training Child Care Subsidy Estimator
  • Data Visualization Training
  • Brand Guidelines for Data
  • Online Courses & Products
© 2023 Data Arts Pty Ltd
logo