ABSTRACT
Like tables and maps, figures and charts are effective tools for conveying information, but only if they are kept simple. All figures consist of two parts - packaging and content. Content is the information you are interested in conveying to others. The purpose of the packaging is to ensure that the content can be quickly, easily and accurately interpreted. Simplicity means keeping the packaging to a minimum. The most common mistake is adding elements that get in the way of the story. To illustrate this, we begin with an example of a poorly designed figure. Then we will show how figures become more powerful by making them simpler.
