Happy September, and big thanks again for the flexibility while we migrate to a new platform. In the last issue I mentioned the move from MailerLite → Beehiiv, name change, as well as some historic reinventions from some large companies. You can check that out here if you missed it.
Right now, about 71% of PlotStack readers are interested in data visualization and working full/part time (how I got these numbers). So this week’s issue is all about a special data visual that works well for macro audiences, or higher ups / VPs / Clients / and more. I’ve seen this visual consistently get positive feedback from execs in my years in BI.
The Gauge Visual (or the Meter Visual)
Very rarely are executive questions like “show me all the data”. They are usually along the lines of “are we on track, or not?”. Gauges help answer that instantly.
In this issue, I’ll share:
Why executives prefer gauges — the psychology behind instant recognition and decision-making.
When to use them — the right (and wrong) contexts for meter visuals.
Best practices — how to design gauges that add clarity instead of clutter.
At the end of the day, visuals aren’t built for analysts — they’re built for the people making decisions. Gauge visuals can remind us sometimes the simplest visualization can be the most powerful.
Interesting Reads (TL;DR)
Gauge Charts: best practices and examples by Cluster
This article provides a balanced take, acknowledging that while gauge charts are often frowned upon by data viz purists, they still score high with executives. The article highlights the appeal of their simplicity and familiarity—“if you’ve driven a car, you know how a gauge works”. Read more
A Practical Guide to Using Gauge Charts in Power BI by Inforiver
Tailored for Power BI users. This article explains why gauge charts are powerful for executive dashboards, walks through how to create and interpret them, and shares essential design features and variations like angular vs. linear gauges. Read more
Qualitative Data Visualization: The Gauge Diagram by Stephanie Evergreen
This article critically examines the common criticisms of gauge charts—like their space inefficiency and limited informational density—yet goes on to identify specific scenarios where they do shine, especially from a psychological perspective. Read more
Resources & Tools
Charticulator #data-visualization #productivity
A free, open-source, no-code tool developed by Microsoft Research that enables users to design bespoke and reusable data visualizations directly in the browser using drag-and-drop elements. It can be intimidating at first, but quickly becomes a must have tool for any analytics project.
Mokkup AI #data-visualization #productivity
One of my go to tools for mocking up a dashboard. The free version comes with 3 canvases to build a mock dashboard. Perfect for brainstorming, sharing drafts with clients, and students.
Learning
▶️ How I built this AWESOME donut chart without using custom visuals (Power BI) by Mara Pereira
In this video, the creator shares a super cool trick for building eye-catching donut charts in Power BI without using any custom visuals. Instead, they cleverly combine standard donut charts and tables, using some neat DAX measures to show sales progress towards targets for different countries, all while making the visuals look sleek and interactive.
▶️ Power BI Just Unlocked Donut Chart INSANITY (3 Must-Try Hacks) by How to Power BI
In this video, you’ll learn how to make your PowerBI donut charts way more eye-catching using the new features introduced in the July 25 update. The presenter walks you through three cool variations—from adding a KPI value right in the middle of the donut, to creatively using borders and colors, and even layering images to fake gradients since PowerBI doesn’t support them natively.
Did you know? The popular fact: “The human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text.” isn’t quite accurate. The 60,000 times claim is from a popular 3M article published in the 90’s and was never supported with evidence, but I guess putting a number to it is easier to say and remember. It's more accurate to say that the brain processes visual information simultaneously, while text is decoded sequentially.
What would you like to see next? At the end of each issue I like to open up the floor to everyone – if you have a suggestion for what you would like to see next issue please share it below in the comments, or email me directly at: [email protected]
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