Change Over Time: The Power of Simple Timeline Graphics

Saturday, November 13, 2004

The Power of Simple Timeline Graphics

Here's a simple timeline graph showing only a single variable, the value of home equity as percentage of total home value. It clearly shows the declining trend in this factor over the past 50+ years

Contrast the clarity of this picture to the graphics in the previous post.

The trend since 1985 makes me wish I could see the past 20 years view. A 10 year view and a 5 year view might provide even more insights.

If you were interested in home ownership, what else would you want to look at? If you find this picture useful, you would likely want to see such things as the trends for:

Average Home Equity in Today's Dollars
Average Home Value in Today's Dollars
Home ownership percentage (but dislayed showing labels on the axes)
Mortgage rates

Home Equity Compared to Home Value

No comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Trend Visualization Principles

1. Context Comes First. Ask all the subject matter experts: What are the most important factors? What's missing? What other factors must you include?

2.Create a History. Measure, record and archive a trend history of every important factor. For best results, measure at a relatively high frequency.

3. Look at ALL the Data. Once you have a history of the most important factors, you'll find charts with but a single variable will tell a powerful story all by themselves. Avoid beginning with the most complicated, most cluttered charts before you have established a good context by actually looking at each important factor on its own.

4. Share ALL Your Data. When you publish a chart, share the readily reusable data with the chart. Include the entire time range of the data you analyzed even if the charts you presented use a shorter interval.

5. Explain Your Calculations whenever you recombine or normalize your data; document your sources.

6. Show Your Thinking. Place explanatory text for your findings in close physical proximity to the your published trend charts. Data + Charts + Text creates a full package that encourages further conversation.

7. Insure Readability. Make sure the axes and titles and other text graphics are easily readable.

What principles do you see as contributing most to improved understanding and enhanced collaboration?

Please add your comments in one of this blog's posts. Thanks.