Data Visualization in Environmental Public Health: From Data to Insight
Using Color Ineffectively
What’s Wrong with This Visual? The choropleth map uses many unrelated colors to represent values along a single numerical scale. Because the colors do not follow a logical progression, viewers must rely on the legend to determine which states have higher or lower complaint rates. • Different colors can suggest separate categories rather than increasing values. • The lack of clear progression makes geographic patterns difficult to recognize. • Too many colors add visual complexity without adding meaning.
How to Make It Better Use a sequential color scale when the data represent values that progress from low to high. A single color that moves from light to dark allows viewers to quickly see differences among states and identify geographic patterns. • Use lighter shades for lower values and darker shades for higher values. • Make sure the legend follows the same light-to-dark progression. • Reserve contrasting colors for information that requires special emphasis.
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