Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics

Wrapping Up

The main thing that sets proportions apart from other data types is that they represent parts of a whole. Each individual value means something, but so do the sum of all the parts or just a subset of the parts. The visualization you design should represent these ideas.

Only have a few values? The pie chart might be your best bet. Use donut charts with care. If you have several values and several categories, consider the stacked bar chart instead of multiple pie charts. If you’re looking for patterns over time, look to your friend the stacked area chart or go for the classic time series. With these steady foundations, your proportions will be good to go.

When it comes time to design and implement, ask yourself what you want to know about your data, and then go from there. Does a static graphic tell your story completely? A lot of the time the answer will be yes, and that’s fine. If, however, you decide you need to go with an interactive graphic, map out on paper what should happen when you click objects and what shouldn’t. It gets complicated quickly if you add too much functionality, so do your best to keep it simple. Have other people try interacting with your designs to see if they understand what’s going on.

Finally, while you’re programming—especially if you’re new to code—you’re undoubtedly going to reach a point where you’re not sure what to do next. This happens to me all the time. When you get stuck, there’s no better place than the web to find your solution. ...