A data visualization, while creatively pleasing, should also serve a functional purpose in effectively communicating data - which refer as combining both art and science. In this context, we can refer to data visualization as a modern art form. Instead of providing step-by-step instructions for enhancing your dashboard, this article will introduce seven design principles as a solid foundation for this “modern art” field.

Color makes a chart look better and makes it easier for people to understand the data it shows. Based on the types of data, the colors used for data visualization can be put into three groups: categorical colors, sequential colors, and diverging colors.