11 Best Data Visualization Examples from History and Today

Data visualization is not new.

Its techniques may have changed over time to accommodate more and more data, but the basic principle has remained the same, and can be dated back to at least 3 millenia.

For example, a painting is a visual depiction of qualitative data - the feeling of a population destroyed by a pandemic or the victory of a king crossing the Alps.

However, even data-based visualizations are not new: the oldest known data visualization is the Turin Papyrus Map - a map depicting the quantity of minerals (including gold) around Egypt.

And here’s the thing: this map is from around 1,150 BCE - more than 3,000 years ago!

In this blog, I’m going to walk you through 11 of the best data visualizations: each using a different data visualization technique to tell a story as simply as possible. 

• 11 Best Data Visualization Examples
• Augmented Tech Labs: Your Ideal Partner for Data Visualization
• Best Data Visualization Examples: FAQs

The 11 effective data visualization examples I’ve chosen depict different things at different times and at different points. But one thing brings them all together: they make optimal use of the data visualization technique that they are using.

Let’s explore them in more detail:

1. The Best Simple Bar Graph

First up, we have a simple and elegant bar graph. 

It depicts more than four variables: famous writers, the types of works they produced, the number of works they produced, and the accolades they won.

But all of them at a single glance!

There are three things that make this simple bar graph one of the best data visualization examples.

First, it inverts the axis such that the bars appear on the Y-axis instead of the X-axis. It tells us that we can adjust a graph according to the data we need to present.

Second, it uses colors very well: this helps us contextualize the achievements of different authors. In other words, it helps understand the data better.

Third, it uses stars on the right as an added parameter.

Simply put, this bar chart uses all the data visualization components in the right way and shows us why even the most basic of charts can have innovative applications!

2. Innovative Use of Line Charts

Next, we have an innovative application of line charts on a completed dataset. 

What you see below is the finishing order of every single participant in a Formula 1 Grand Prix held in Austria in 2021. 

On the left is the starting order, on the right is the finishing order, and every driver has a line that depicts their progress throughout the race. 

This line chart is a remarkable example of data visualization for a couple of reasons. 

First, it shows a lot of information in a very small graph: it tells the race story of every single driver through 71 laps of the race. 

Second, it uses the colors that every racing team uses itself. This makes the graph very easy to read and follow. For example, the light greens represent the Mercedes drivers. 

So, with just a brief glance towards the right, you can see that the team finished 2nd and 3rd in the race. 

3. Informative Bubble Chart

Below, we have a great example of a Bubble Chart.

It shows the world’s top 50 websites ranked by the number of users or visitors it has.

Apart from the bubbles themselves, which clearly tell the main story, you also have a great color combination for the top websites.

However, this bubble chart makes one of the most common data visualization mistakes to avoid.

That is, it doesn’t use similar colors for similar types of websites: red for search engines, blue for social networks, yellow for e-commerce websites, etc. Using consistent colors could have made this bubble chart even easier to read.

This goes to show that even the best of creators can use some help from data visualization consultants!

4. Best Infographic

Infographics are notorious for being too lengthy, and the one I’ve selected doesn’t disappoint!

It shows the history of pandemics from the 1st century AD all the way up to the 21st century.

This infographic is a product of the COVID-19 pandemic: a result of our need to contextualize the pandemic that affected our lives, but in the age of data visualization.

It uses colors, years, and differently sized bubbles to depict diseases, time, and the scale of the deaths caused by pandemics over 2,000 years in one snapshot.

You can think of it as our equivalent of a painting created in the 14th century depicting the black death.

5. Alluvial Chart

Next, we have an alluvial chart.

The purpose of alluvial charts is to show us two things: the whole quantity and the proportion occupied by specific elements within it.

What you see here is the number of people who have migrated to the US from different countries since the early 1800s. On the right are numbers, going up to 10 million a year.

While it might be confusing to match the numbers with the curving lines, the colors do a fine job of saving the day: all you have to do is see the color of the country and match it with the waves depicting the numbers that flow towards the right.

So, you can clearly see the mass wave of Italian immigration dominating total migration to the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This visualization is also one of the best examples of how to use data visualization best practices to effectively communicate the story of your data.

With the help of some expert data visualization services, you can make a similar chart showing the sales of different products your company has offered over the years!

6. A Donut Diet Chart

A donut chart is like a pie chart with a hole in the middle.

As you can see below, it is great for depicting the distribution of a whole quantity.

We can clearly see the average caloric distribution of the average person, divided into different colors for the source of the calories.

What’s interesting is how we can use the same donut chart to understand the caloric sources for different countries around the world!

7. World Population Area Chart

Below, we have what is probably the best example of an area chart.

It uses the image of a globe to show the distribution of world population among the different countries.

As you can see, it also uses bounded areas that are proportional to the country’s population. 

Plus, what’s great is that countries that are closer together are also placed near each other on the map, making it easier for us to identify and contextualize the data.

8. Florence Nightingale’s Coxcomb Chart

One of the oldest examples of data visualizations is Florence Nightingale’s Coxcomb Chart. 

Nightingale, a politician in the United Kingdom, used it to show the number of preventable deaths that occurred in the Crimean War. 

This data visualization is an example of a radar chart: the slices all have equal width, but varying radii. 

As a result, you can use the radii to show the different magnitudes of the same data in the same chart. 

9. Line Chart Depicting Chip Prices

Next up, we have another line chart.

It tracks the correlation between the price of Ethereum and Graphical Processing Units that are used to mine the cryptocurrency.

This chart also tracks the value of CPUs as opposed to GPUs against the mining of Ethereum units.

You can use this type of line chart to understand how much you might have to pay for the supply of your raw materials.

But that’s not all: you can also use data modeling with such charts and the underlying data to anticipate price changes for the main raw materials you use.

10. Supply Chain and Manufacturing Dashboards

Building on the last chart, we have an executive dashboard for supply chain management.

It gives you a snapshot of your entire supply chain at a glance.

On the left, there is the date range, followed by a breakdown of shipping timelines in the center, and late deliveries highlighted on the right. 

At the bottom, you can see the shipment status of all the orders within the given date range. 

This dashboard is also one of the best interactive data visualization examples: you can link it with your supply chain management software.

This will ensure that you always see the latest information updated in real-time.

11. Interactive Sales Dashboard for Business Executives

The last example shows us that the use of data visualization is becoming more and more important for businesses.

Whether you are an SDR, a revenue professional, or an executive, it gives you a visual snapshot of the state of your operations.

For example, below we have a sales dashboard that shows:

• The average deal value, deal closing rate, and average sales cycle length.
• Rep-wise demos delivered and total deals closed per week.
• The overall quarterly sales performance. 
• A record of the best opportunities. 

All of this in one dashboard that can be updated in real-time when integrated by your data visualization consultant with your CRM!

Augmented Tech Labs: Your Perfect Partner for Data Visualization
Through this blog, I’ve walked you through the best data visualizations that tell stories using simple lines and shapes rather than words.

From the world of sports to the state of the world population, we have seen bubbles, donuts, lines, and bars being utilized to break down complex data and communicate it as easily as possible.

So, if you too want to use the power of the best data visualization techniques available to tell the story of your data, all you need is the right tools.

These include a data visualization tool or a data visualization consultant.

And that’s where we at Augmented Tech Labs come in!

We have both the experience of working with the best data visualization tools on the market and the expertise it takes to convert complex data into easy-to-understand images.

Connect with us today for a free consultation to find out how we can help you tell the story behind your data!

1. Can you show me creative data visualization examples for business?

Yes. Creative data visualization examples include interactive sales dashboards and innovative race progress charts. These turn complex performance data into an easy-to-understand visual story.

2. What makes an effective data visualization example?

Effective data visualization examples tell a story simply. They use techniques like bar graphs, bubble charts, and alluvial diagrams optimally to make complex data instantly understandable.

3. Do you offer interactive data visualization in your services?

Yes, our data visualization services include creating interactive data visualizations like real-time sales dashboards that integrate with your CRM for live business insights