posted May 24, 2012, 5:49 AM by r
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updated Jan 12, 2014, 1:30 PM by Krisztina Szabó
]
A big thanks to my friend Kris ... She wrote this beautiful and amusing article collecting some our charts. UPDATE: you can find 120+ creative and advanced charts with templates in our Excel Charts Gallery ! For leaving a comment :
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Charts: haute-couture vs. pret-a-porterIn the past few month we created several charts and nowadays continuously have better and better chart ideas, so we decided to publish a collection of them. The context I’d like to use in this article is my hobby: fashion :-) In fashion haute-couture means elegant, excellent, “high dressmaking”. These collections sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. Usually haute-couture is regarded as an innovative, reformer branch of fashion, but many times declared as unwearable. These trends will be used as a basis of pret-a-porter collections. Jean Paul Gaultier spring 2010 collection
 Jean Paul Gaultier Autumn Winter 2008/2009 Pret-a-porter means “ready to wear” - it is often more practical and informal than haute-couture. Standard patterns, factory equipment, and faster construction techniques are used to create these collections. On the analogy of fashion, we would like to show you some haute-couture charts. These are just ideas. Some of them could be suitable for practical use, some are not. Exactly as in haute-couture… It is told to find a good chart one must throw away 10 - we show you 13+1 here so surely some of them will be applicable for real life purposes! To make the decision easier, we write some sentences about the chart why it is special and use a subjective fancy-factor representing what we think about the chart. We also mention the alternative of these haute-couture charts - please note, some of them are brand new, belike these will be the first charts chosen to be pret-a-porter. The base chart and the tricks could help creating something similar - you can start fiddling with Excel or you can download some files. The level categorization could help where to start :-) levels: Easy Advanced Extreme Savant-only
SpringsSimilar to Gaultier Autumn Winter, isn’t it? 
| Why special: |
Use it to visualize time series. The height of the springs
represents the value. You can fix the number of curves within the spring
or the heights of curves - each gives a bit different picture. | | Fancy-factor: | 4 |
| Alternative: |
Column | | Base chart: | xy Scatter | | Level: | Advanced (static version) / Extreme (dynamic version) | | Tricks: | We created two versions. The first one is static, all the data series
for x and y values defined one by one as named formulas. The logic
behind the named formulas is easy to understand, but you need to add new
names if you have more data. The advantage is that you have separated
series so it is possible to use different format for each of them. The dynamic version uses 2D array to make the series dynamic. If you add
a new year with data, it will immediately appear on the chart.
Disadvantage is that you can not format the years differently - but you
can use gradient colouring to simulate something similar.
We use an invisible data series to make easier positioning the data labels. | | Download: | Springs.xlsx or at the bottom of the page by clicking on the small arrow on the right-hand side
|
Density dots
Size and population density of some Italian cities | Why special: |
Visualize the area and density of population of cities. | | Fancy-factor: | 5 |
| Alternative: |
Brand new! | | Base chart: | xy Scatter | | Level: | Advanced | | Tricks: | We created two versions. The first one is static, all the data series
for x and y values defined one by one as named formulas. The logic
behind the named formulas is easy to understand, but you need to add new
names if you have more data. The advantage is that you have separated
series so it is possible to use different format for each of them.
| | Download: | https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/tangled-chart-with-excel |
Gomitoli (tangled)
Simply WOW | Why special: |
Visualize the area and density of population of cities. | | Fancy-factor: | 5+ |
| Alternative: |
Brand new! | | Base chart: | xy Scatter | | Level: | Advanced | | Tricks: | To have a circle-shape you need to use a SIN and COS value as x and y
series. In this case we created a random array but with constant
numbers, so there is no re-calculation as it was in the case above. We
calculate SIN and COS of the same angle data, so the result will
obviously a circle.
| | Download: | https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/tangled-chart-with-excel |
Percentage
With a bonus optical illusion - do you see the little dots?  | Why special: |
Visualize a percentage using 100 squares. Could be a great tool to compare percentages. | | Fancy-factor: | 5 |
| Alternative: |
Brand new | | Base chart: | xy Scatter | | Level: | Easy | | Tricks: | It is really easy! No magic! The simple is the best! We use named
formulas to create the arrays for x and y values for two series. The
first series is the gray one - this is static, determines 100 data
points by coordinates. The second one is the yellow one to represent the
percentage.
If you reverse the x and y named ranges, the grey dots will be on the right-hand side.
| | Download: | https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/percentage-chart-with-excel |
Twisted column and row
You can colour as rainbow :-) Or the second in blue - as Marge Simpson’s hair :-)  | Why special: |
Not a usual column-chart, seems like the wind is playing with the
grass. There is just a solid bend - it should not confuse the data
comparison. | | Fancy-factor: | 4 |
| Alternative: |
Column | | Base chart: | xy Scatter line or only makers | | Level: | Advanced
| | Tricks: | We struggled a little bit with the non-contiguous series. In Excel
2007 it is problematic to create a chart using named formula when you do
not have data for some data points. But Roberto always finds tricky
solutions :-) Only gradient coloring is not possible in this case in
Excel 2007.
You can create some very funny effect using markers only! | | Download: | Twisted column.xlsx, Twisted rows.xlsx or at the bottom of the page by clicking on the small arrow on the right-hand side. |
CherryIt is a real business chart developed to analyse the product structure of the company by growth, profitability and sales volume.  | Why special: |
In this chart we show 3 data for each product. Two percentage data
(for example growth and profitability margin) measured on x and y axis
represented by the dot, plus a size (for example sales volume)
represented by the length of the line. This latter does not measured on a
scale, it is there to make comparable the importance of products
regarding the sales volume. So line is an alternative of the size of the
bubble in a bubble chart. It could be useful when the bubbles are
overlapped, but important to show the 3rd data. | | Fancy-factor: | 4 |
| Alternative: |
Bubble | | Base chart: | xy Scatter | | Level: | Advanced
| | Tricks: | There are no axes just invisible series with special data label
(linked to cell) to represent the percentage intervals. The 3rd data
(for example volume) has to be re-scaled to be in line with the data
measured on the vertical axis.
Each product is one data series, so in this case a bit of manual work is needed to add the series to the chart. | | Download: | Cherry.xlsx or at the bottom of the page by clicking on the small arrow on the right-hand side. |
Iceberg
Designed for an infographic-CV to represent the development of skills during time/positions.  | Why special: |
This chart type gives more focus to the new elements. Could be useful
when you need something eye-catching, not a simple, well-known area
chart. | | Fancy-factor: | 4 |
| Alternative: |
Area | | Base chart: | Area + xy Scatter combined | | Level: | Easy | | Tricks: | Simply use an additional invisible series to “lift” the series up.
The
vertical lines are drawn using xy Scatter line - you can draw from the
bottom of the chart - it would be easier. And as in some other charts,
we added an invisible data series (xy Scatter) to make easier
positioning the labels to the middle of the ranges.
| | Download: | infographic_CV_kris.xlsx or at the bottom of the page by clicking on the small arrow on the right-hand side. |
The Lisa Simpson chart
After Marge Simpson, it is a must!  | Why special: |
Just for fun :-) | | Fancy-factor: | 4 |
| Alternative: |
Pie | | Base chart: | Radar | | Level: | Extreme | | Tricks: | Because of the format there is significant rounding in the data to have the slices start and end according to the zig-zag.
| | Download: | Lisa_Simpson.xlsx or at the bottom of the page by clicking on the small arrow on the right-hand side.
|
Rectangular pie and doughnutSquaring the circle! | Why special: |
Very impressive format, however could be misleading because only the
angle represents data, the area of the slices could not be compared. | | Fancy-factor: | 5 |
| Alternative: |
Pie/Doughnut | | Base chart: | Radar | | Level: | Savant only | | Tricks: | trigonometric and magic!
You can change the angle of the slices and the size of the hole.
The
chart consists of as many series as many data you have. One series
displays one data, but it is cummulative data, so the series overlap
each other - what you see as slice is always the difference between two
series.
| | Download: | https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/square-pie-doughnut-chart-with-excel |
Ferris wheel
Does not look like an Excel chart, does it? BTW, isn’t it a bit similar to Gaultier spring 2010?
Pie+ring
Two more for CVs | Why special: |
Great graphic-representation instead of boring text in curriculum
vitae. The first one symbolizes the importance of work with a larger
circle - could come out positive on a job interview! | | Fancy-factor: | 5 |
| Alternative: |
Pie/Doughnut | | Base chart: | Doughnut charts combined | | Level: | Easy | | Tricks: | All curves are part of a full ring - the missing part coloured
invisible. You can use percentage data for each curve, but half all the
percentages and add an additional 50% to represent the invisible
half-circle. | | Download: | infographic_CV_kris.xlsx or at the bottom of the page by clicking on the small arrow on the right-hand side. |
RacetrackInspired by the Olympic Games  | Why special: |
The racetrack could come out great in business environment. The
points where the curve part becomes straight could represent a limit.
The series which does not exceed this limit, regarded as failed (year
2007 in the example) | | Fancy-factor: | 5 |
| Alternative: |
Bar
| | Base chart: | Bubble | | Level: | Extreme | | Tricks: | This chart is built from named formulas based on trigonometric functions.
There
are four data series: two for the curve part yellow/gray and two for
the straight part yellow/gray. Gray dots form the track - they could be
found under the yellows too. On this chart the highest data is always
the “winner” - it goes till the end of the track, while the others
measured comparing to this maximum.
Additional series make easier positioning the data labels.
| | Download: | https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/racetrack-chart-with-excel |
NecklaceStarted with fashion - finish with fashion!  | Why special: |
Simply beautiful. | | Fancy-factor: | 4 |
| Alternative: |
Pie | | Base chart: | Bubble | | Level: | Extreme | | Tricks: | The chart is built from named formulas based on trigonometric functions.
There
are two data series: one for the perls and one for the gray dots. The
gray dots form ¾ of the circle, so they are below the pearls too. The
highest data always forms ¾ circle, the rest is measured proportionally
to this maximum.
An invisible series makes easier positioning the data labels.
| | Download: | https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/necklace-chart-with-excel |
+1 The-Chart-Which-Must-Not-Be-NamedIt has a name... but... I do not want to publish.  | Why special: |
No comment. :-) | | Fancy-factor: | 4+ |
| Alternative: |
Column | | Base chart: | xy Scatter line
| | Level: | Easy | | Tricks: | xy Scatter chart is a huge playground to create fancy, funny charts! | | Download: | name_inpronunciabile.xlsx or at the bottom of the page by clicking on the small arrow on the right-hand side. |
EpiloguePlease do not regard these charts as a best practice or recommendation. These are just ideas - as in haute couture. You can use if it gives a little “salt” to your work, but always respect the data and your target audience - never forget the basic rules: data derives chart choice. As it was told by the famous French fashion designer, Coco Chanel: “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” by Frankens Team |
 Updating... Ĉ Krisztina Szabó, Jul 2, 2013, 2:36 PM
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