Our design principles ensure that maps, charts, and other visuals communicate clear, accurate, and actionable insights to our partners. These principles guide both the creation of visual products and the collaboration between programmes team and the info team.
Purpose
- Our visualisations are convincing. Maps and charts do more than display data: they communicate meaningful insights.
- Our visualisations are concise. Maps and charts include all required information to make a convincing point, without distractions or clutter.
- Our visualisations are correct. Maps and charts are free of errors and omissions. They do not mislead readers, intentionally or un-intentionally.
- Our visualisations are consistent. Maps and charts adhere to the same standards and principles: across all products and contexts.
Audience
- We create maps and charts to inform our audience of humanitarian partners.
- We know our audience is well-informed but relies on us to support them with additional insights.
- We assume they have sufficient knowledge of the field and context they operate in, but we should not make them work to understand our analysis.
- Our products are accessible to any partner who is interested.
Practice
- No visuals without data: we only create graphics and maps based on actual data. We do not recreate existing visualisations.