Google rules: six new principles in data visualization design to follow

What is data visualization? you asked Google. Data visualization depicts information in graphical form is the answer and after launching its public guidelines in full details for creating your own data visualizations now the mighty force online is sharing six strategies for designing any chart.

Google's Manuel Lima posted six brand new principles to follow for a great data visualization design on Medium. The insights, gathered by a group of passionate designers and engineers and literally Google’s first fully dedicated Data Visualization force, cover everything. From color to shape and typography, the comprehensive set of data visualization guidelines are intriguing and informative.

The adventure kicked offback in August 2017. Now Google's Data Visualization team presents its findings in this algorithm friendly exploration of how people visualize and interact with information. “We want to share our insights with creators everywhere. We’ve launched detailed public guidelines for creating your own data visualizations, and distilled our top principles and considerations. Below, six strategies for designing any chart” notes Google. 

From data accuracy and integrity, the first basic rule to emphasize clarity and transparency through the need to provide context and help users navigate the data to providing structure by using visual which “develop uniformity in graphical treatments (shape, color, iconography, typography) and interaction patterns (selection, filtering, hover states, expansion)” Google's Data Visualization team would like you to rule in data visualization design.

Explore the rules here and just do it!

Bonus: watch and learn the best practices for creating a dark theme based on an existing material app in the video below and let the light in.