Choose a format

Choose the simplest format that still makes your point.

Your message is…	Use	Go to
One number or fact, an outcome rather than a relationship	A big number (BAN), optionally with a sparkline	Big numbers
A comparison, trend, composition, distribution or relationship between two or more variables	A chart	Charts
A pattern in which location itself matters	A map	Maps
Several measures the same people check regularly, as the data updates	A dashboard	Dashboards
Exact values the reader needs to look up	A table
A few numbers that fit in a sentence	Text

Before you make a map

Not all data with a location should be mapped. Ask yourself:

• Does location matter for the story, or is it just available?
• Would a bar chart of regions compare them more clearly? Usually it would.
• Is a map worth the extra effort? Good maps take much more work than good charts.

If the answer is “a chart would do”, use a chart.

Swap the examples on these pages for your own domain. The decision order stays the same everywhere: number, then chart, then map, from simplest to most complex.