Information design

Member lesson

Colour for data

Lesson 5 of 12 in Information design.

Lesson

Colour in a chart is an encoding rather than a decoration, and the kind of data decides the kind of palette. Unordered categories want distinct hues. Ordered values want one hue getting darker. Values either side of a meaningful centre want two hues meeting in the middle.

An ink drawing of a photocopier tray with a blue bar chart stepping from pale to deep beside its black and white copy, where the bars still step from light to dark.
A colour chart and its grey photocopy, both still reading clearly.
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  1. Question 1, locked

    Which of these words means this? “Distinct hues for unordered categories. Around seven before people lose track.”

    • Actionability
    • Explanatory diagram
    • Comparison
    • Categorical palette
  2. Question 2, locked

    Which of these words means this? “One hue running light to dark, for ordered values.”

    • Sequential palette
    • Colour vision deficiency
    • Data visualisation
    • Progressive disclosure
  3. Question 3, locked

    Which of these words means this? “Two hues meeting at a meaningful middle. Needs a real midpoint.”

    • Diverging palette
    • Composition
    • Error recovery
    • Sequential palette

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