Making complex information clear, one chart at a time
Met Office warnings pack hazard, likelihood, impact and geography into a single shaded map, yet most people meet them on a handset while walking to a station. This article sets out a glanceable hierarchy that keeps the official risk level intact while making the essential facts readable in seconds.
Postcode-level choropleths have become the default visual for UK local data, yet their clean shapes conceal unequal populations, lookup uncertainty and boundary mismatches. Here is a practical framework for choosing, annotating and caveating postcode geography so that maps illuminate rather than mislead.
Front-of-pack nutrition labels are meant to guide a quick choice in the supermarket aisle, but small type, inconsistent colour coding and mismatched comparison bases often slow the shopper down. This article compares UK labelling approaches and proposes a clearer visual hierarchy that supports comparison without turning the pack into a data dump.
A cricket scorecard is one of the most compressed data displays in sport, yet readers can find a bowler's economy rate or a batter's dismissal without instruction. This article examines the notation, hierarchy and progressive disclosure behind that feat and applies them to UK public-sector tables and financial reports that too often overwhelm rather than inform.
Most UK charts are now met on a handset, in a feed, between two other distractions. This piece sets out a practical five-second test for static graphics, with before-and-after cases from transport, health and local government, and a frank view of when interactivity helps and when it simply conceals the story.
An energy bill is a financial statement that most households read once and understand partially. This article sets out a before-and-after redesign that separates standing charges, unit rates, estimated consumption and policy levies, works within Ofgem's presentation requirements, and argues that a good graphic must show both what a household pays and why.
Council performance dashboards often contain the right figures but hide the story behind equal-weight tiles and technical labels. This practical critique sets out five design moves for 2026, from leading with one accountable metric to publishing a clear update rhythm.
Theme park queue boards, rail departure screens and NHS waiting-time displays are everyday examples of real-time visual storytelling under pressure. This article extracts five reusable principles for public-service dashboards that need to inform without overwhelming.
The November 2026 Budget will arrive with OBR tables, IFS analysis and a blizzard of £ billions. This craft guide sets out six chart forms that translate fiscal totals into human scale without overselling precision, with spreadsheet-ready steps for communicators.
Red-green heatmaps remain common in UK public reporting, yet roughly one in twelve men cannot read them reliably. This pragmatic guide shows how to swap palettes, add redundant labels and meet contrast expectations without losing visual impact.