Charts

Charts are visual representations of data that help users understand trends, patterns, and relationships more easily than raw numbers.

Philosophy

Labels exist to clarify meaning and reduce ambiguity.

They make UI elements self-explanatory.

They strengthen recognition over recall, so users don’t guess.

They ensure consistency across inputs, buttons, and navigation.

Anatomy

Variants

Vertical bar chart

Compare categories.

Bar chart average

A line shows average.

Horizontal bar chart

Compare categories.

Vertical proportion

Show proportions of a whole.

Vertical bar comparison

Compare data in same categories.

Trend chart

Show trends over time.

Trend comparison

compare trends over time.

Scatter plot

Show relationships between variables.

States

Idle

Static display of data.

Usage tips

Dos

Choose the right chart type for the data (bar for categories, line for time).

Label axes, legends, and data clearly.

Use color sparingly and consistently to aid comprehension.

Provide interactivity (tooltips, filters) for large or complex datasets.

Don’ts

Don’t overload charts with too much data — it reduces clarity.

Don’t rely only on color to differentiate categories.

Real-world example