The Chart Audit: your first step to better data visualizations (+ a free resource ✨)
The most effect step in our data visualization guidelines process is also the simplest: the chart audit.
Here is a question: What's the first thing most teams do when they want to improve their data visualization?
If you said "pick new colors" or "choose better fonts," you're absolutely right. And it's also why so many data visualization projects end up as expensive exercises in frustration.
We learned (the hard way) that jumping straight to visual solutions before understanding your actual problems is like a doctor prescribing medication without examining the patient. It might look good, but it won't solve what's actually ailing you.
The examination that changes everything
After working with half a dozens of organizations (including the recent project with Moody's), we’ve found one step to be vital to the process of improving data visualization at the organizational level.
The Chart Audit.
It's not sexy. It's not trendy. But it works.
Instead of "let's pick some colors". Now we use the "show me what you're already working with.” because:
It shows what's already working: Why reinvent the wheel when you can identify and standardize approaches your team already does well?
It pinpoints high-impact changes: Instead of overhauling everything (hello, scope creep), you can target specific improvements that deliver immediate value
It builds actual buy-in: When teams see you fixing problems they actually face, not theoretical issues, they're much more likely to support your efforts
It focuses your limited time: Let's be honest, nobody has unlimited hours for dataviz improvements. The audit makes sure you're working on what is of most importance.
What you’ll discover through auditing
Our chart audits repeatedly highlight something important: what teams think they need and what would actually help them are often different. We found that the audit specifically helps with:
1. Pattern Recognition
AKA "Why are we doing it like this?"
Which chart types your team naturally gravitates toward
Where your "unofficial standards" have already emerged
How different teams handle the same types of data
The disconnect between your brand guidelines and what people actually produce
2. Pain Point Identification
AKA "This is why we're always behind schedule"
Which visualization types cause the most confusion and revision cycles
Where teams waste hours reinventing the wheel
The charts that fail to drive decisions
Common mistakes that require constant fixing
3. Channel Mapping
AKA "Why doesn't this work in the report?"
How your charts translate across different formats
Where teams are duplicating work across channels
Format-specific challenges your improvements need to address
Opportunities to standardize across platforms
How to run your own chart audit in 8 steps
A Chart Audit doesn't need to be complicated.
Gather Examples: Collect 15-20 charts from the last 2-3 months across reports, presentations, dashboards, and social media.
Set Up Your Data Hub: Create a spreadsheet to track chart type, context, effectiveness, and issues for each visualization.
Document & Analyze: Take screenshots and record specific observations about what works and what doesn't for each chart.
Map Your Channels: Note where visualizations appear and how they're adapted across different platforms and formats.
Identify Patterns: Look for recurring chart types, common pain points, and successful approaches across examples.
Prioritize Findings: Rank issues by impact and feasibility, identifying quick wins that could immediately improve effectiveness.
Share Insights: Summarize key patterns and opportunities with stakeholders and internal teams using specific examples.
Plan Next Steps: Outline how findings will inform improvements to guidelines, templates, or processes and which should be prioritized.
From Audit to Action
The beauty of a Chart Audit is that it transforms your improvement efforts from theoretical "best practices" into practical solutions for your specific challenges.
Instead of copying what someone else did, the audit will help you build targeted improvements:
Fix your actual pain points (not someone else's)
Build on what your team already does well
Work within your specific constraints (maybe you mainly work with maps, or you need a very specific risk palette)
Meet your team where they are and identify their training needs
And if you are planning to develop formal data visualization guidelines (which, yes, you should), this audit becomes your crucial first step. Guidelines built on a real understanding of your current practices will be adopted far more readily than those imposed from on high.
We've used this exact approach with clients ranging from small nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies, and it works every time.
✨ Get started with our free Chart Audit Template in Notion
Ready to conduct your audit? We've created a free Chart Audit Template in Notion to help you get started. This is the one we use.
It includes:
A ready-to-use database structure with all fields you need for effective analysis
Pre-configured tags for common chart issues and contexts, saving you setup time
Built-in analytical views that automatically visualize patterns as you add charts (yes we know Notion has dataviz limitations but it’s good enough for this)
Don't rush to solutions before understanding your problems. Take the time to examine what you're working with, and your data visualization improvement efforts will deliver far greater returns.
We hope this helps!
Still have questions about running your chart audit? We're here to help. Email us at hello@figuresfigures.com or if you’re trying to keep it low key, follow along on Linkedin.