---
title: "Examples"
output: rmarkdown::html_vignette
resource_files:
- figures/goldenviz-report.html
vignette: >
%\VignetteIndexEntry{Examples}
%\VignetteEngine{knitr::rmarkdown}
%\VignetteEncoding{UTF-8}
---
```{r setup, include=FALSE}
knitr::opts_chunk$set(
message = FALSE,
warning = FALSE,
fig.width = 6.5,
fig.height = 3.8
)
```
This page gives one weak and one stronger `ggplot2` example for each of the 25
GoldenVizR rules. The goal is not to prescribe one chart type, but to show the
kind of practical correction each rule encourages.
Use `analyze_plot()` on any example to inspect the structured rule results.
Use `render_report()`, `save_report()`, or `view_report()` when you want the
same result as a formatted HTML report.
```{r html-report-code, eval=FALSE}
report <- analyze_plot(good_plot)
render_report(report)
save_report(report, "goldenviz-report.html")
view_report(report)
```
Example HTML report output:
Annotated report layout:
```{r examples-report-annotated, echo=FALSE, out.width="100%"}
knitr::include_graphics("figures/goldenviz-report-annotated.png")
```
## Completeness
### Rule 1: Clear title
Needs improvement the chart has no title, so the reader has to infer the question.
```{r r1-bad}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point() +
labs(x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the title states what the chart is about.
```{r r1-good}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point() +
labs(
title = "Fuel economy falls as vehicle weight increases",
x = "Weight",
y = "Miles per gallon"
) +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 2: Axis labels
Needs improvement raw variable names make the axes harder to understand.
```{r r2-bad}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by weight") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart labels use readable language and units.
```{r r2-good}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point() +
labs(
title = "Fuel economy by vehicle weight",
x = "Weight in 1000 pounds",
y = "Miles per gallon"
) +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 3: Missing values and gaps
Needs improvement missing months vanish without explanation.
```{r r3-bad}
library(ggplot2)
sales <- data.frame(
month = as.Date(c("2026-01-01", "2026-02-01", "2026-04-01", "2026-05-01")),
revenue = c(12, 14, 18, 17)
)
ggplot(sales, aes(month, revenue)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Monthly revenue", x = "Month", y = "Revenue") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the chart makes the missing March value explicit.
```{r r3-good}
library(ggplot2)
sales <- data.frame(
month = as.Date(c("2026-01-01", "2026-02-01", "2026-03-01", "2026-04-01", "2026-05-01")),
revenue = c(12, 14, NA, 18, 17)
)
ggplot(sales, aes(month, revenue)) +
geom_line(na.rm = TRUE) +
geom_point(size = 2, na.rm = TRUE) +
annotate("text", x = as.Date("2026-03-01"), y = 15.5, label = "March missing", size = 3) +
labs(
title = "Monthly revenue with missing March data shown",
x = "Month",
y = "Revenue",
caption = "March was not reported."
) +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 4: Legend clarity
Needs improvement the color legend uses raw category codes.
```{r r4-bad}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg, colour = factor(cyl))) +
geom_point(size = 2.5) +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by weight", x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the legend title and labels explain the grouping.
```{r r4-good}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg, colour = factor(cyl))) +
geom_point(size = 2.5) +
scale_colour_discrete(
name = "Cylinder count",
labels = c("4 cylinders", "6 cylinders", "8 cylinders")
) +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by weight and cylinder count", x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 5: Source and context
Needs improvement the chart gives no source, scope, or time context.
```{r r5-bad}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(factor(cyl), mpg)) +
geom_boxplot() +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by cylinders", x = "Cylinders", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the caption tells the reader where the data came from.
```{r r5-good}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(factor(cyl), mpg)) +
geom_boxplot() +
labs(
title = "Fuel economy by cylinder count",
subtitle = "Motor Trend road tests",
x = "Cylinders",
y = "Miles per gallon",
caption = "Source: mtcars dataset."
) +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 6: Annotation for key message
Needs improvement the important peak is left for the reader to discover.
```{r r6-bad}
library(ggplot2)
traffic <- data.frame(day = 1:10, visits = c(40, 42, 45, 47, 52, 88, 56, 54, 53, 51))
ggplot(traffic, aes(day, visits)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Daily visits", x = "Day", y = "Visits") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart annotation explains the key event.
```{r r6-good}
library(ggplot2)
traffic <- data.frame(day = 1:10, visits = c(40, 42, 45, 47, 52, 88, 56, 54, 53, 51))
ggplot(traffic, aes(day, visits)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
annotate("label", x = 6.8, y = 82, label = "Campaign launch", size = 3) +
coord_cartesian(ylim = c(35, 94), clip = "off") +
labs(title = "Daily visits increased during campaign launch", x = "Day", y = "Visits") +
theme_minimal()
```
## Readability
### Rule 7: Readable text
Needs improvement small text makes the chart difficult to read.
```{r r7-bad}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by weight", x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal(base_size = 6)
```
Better chart the base text size is readable.
```{r r7-good}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by weight", x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal(base_size = 12)
```
### Rule 8: Accessible color choices
Needs improvement too many similar colors make categories hard to separate.
```{r r8-bad}
library(ggplot2)
segments <- data.frame(
segment = c("Home", "Food", "Bills", "Health", "Auto", "Shopping"),
value = c(32, 16, 21, 11, 15, 5)
)
ggplot(segments, aes(segment, value, fill = segment)) +
geom_col() +
scale_fill_manual(values = c("#d95f02", "#e66101", "#fdb863", "#b35806", "#fdae61", "#fee0b6")) +
labs(title = "Monthly spending", x = "Category", y = "Share") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart direct labels and a restrained palette reduce dependence on color alone.
```{r r8-good}
library(ggplot2)
segments <- data.frame(
segment = c("Home", "Food", "Bills", "Health", "Auto", "Shopping"),
value = c(32, 16, 21, 11, 15, 5)
)
ggplot(segments, aes(reorder(segment, value), value)) +
geom_col(fill = "#4c78a8") +
geom_text(aes(label = paste0(value, "%")), hjust = -0.15, size = 3.3) +
coord_flip() +
labs(title = "Monthly spending by category", x = NULL, y = "Share of spending") +
theme_minimal() +
theme(legend.position = "none")
```
### Rule 9: Avoid clutter
Needs improvement redundant layers and heavy styling compete with the data.
```{r r9-bad}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg, colour = factor(cyl), shape = factor(cyl))) +
geom_point(size = 4) +
geom_line() +
geom_smooth(se = FALSE) +
labs(title = "Fuel economy", x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_bw() +
theme(panel.grid.minor = element_line(colour = "grey70"))
```
Better chart the chart keeps only the marks needed for the comparison.
```{r r9-good}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg, colour = factor(cyl))) +
geom_point(size = 2.4, alpha = 0.85) +
labs(
title = "Fuel economy by vehicle weight",
x = "Weight",
y = "Miles per gallon",
colour = "Cylinders"
) +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 10: Grid and guide balance
Needs improvement heavy grids dominate the visual field.
```{r r10-bad}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point(size = 2.2) +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by weight", x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal() +
theme(
panel.grid.major = element_line(colour = "grey25", linewidth = 0.8),
panel.grid.minor = element_line(colour = "grey45", linewidth = 0.6)
)
```
Better chart subtle major guides support reading without taking over.
```{r r10-good}
library(ggplot2)
ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg)) +
geom_point(size = 2.2) +
labs(title = "Fuel economy by weight", x = "Weight", y = "Miles per gallon") +
theme_minimal() +
theme(
panel.grid.major = element_line(colour = "grey88", linewidth = 0.4),
panel.grid.minor = element_blank()
)
```
### Rule 11: Consistent formatting
Needs improvement inconsistent labels and colors make the categories look unrelated.
```{r r11-bad}
library(ggplot2)
region <- data.frame(group = c("north", "SOUTH", "East", "west"), value = c(18, 24, 20, 16))
ggplot(region, aes(group, value, fill = group)) +
geom_col() +
scale_fill_manual(values = c("red", "grey50", "navy", "orange")) +
labs(title = "Regional performance", x = "region", y = "VALUE") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart labels and styling follow one convention.
```{r r11-good}
library(ggplot2)
region <- data.frame(group = c("North", "South", "East", "West"), value = c(18, 24, 20, 16))
ggplot(region, aes(group, value)) +
geom_col(fill = "#4c78a8") +
labs(title = "Regional performance", x = "Region", y = "Score") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 12: Appropriate chart type
Needs improvement a line implies order and continuity between unordered categories.
```{r r12-bad}
library(ggplot2)
region <- data.frame(region = c("North", "South", "East", "West"), value = c(18, 24, 20, 16))
ggplot(region, aes(region, value, group = 1)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point(size = 2.5) +
labs(title = "Regional performance", x = "Region", y = "Score") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart bars suit unordered category comparisons.
```{r r12-good}
library(ggplot2)
region <- data.frame(region = c("North", "South", "East", "West"), value = c(18, 24, 20, 16))
ggplot(region, aes(reorder(region, value), value)) +
geom_col(fill = "#4c78a8") +
coord_flip() +
labs(title = "Regional performance", x = "Region", y = "Score") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 13: Readable scale labels
Needs improvement long numeric labels are harder to scan.
```{r r13-bad}
library(ggplot2)
revenue <- data.frame(year = 2021:2025, amount = c(1200000, 1450000, 1380000, 1700000, 1850000))
ggplot(revenue, aes(year, amount)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Revenue trend", x = "Year", y = "Revenue") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the scale communicates units directly.
```{r r13-good}
library(ggplot2)
revenue <- data.frame(year = 2021:2025, amount = c(1200000, 1450000, 1380000, 1700000, 1850000))
ggplot(revenue, aes(year, amount / 1e6)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
scale_x_continuous(breaks = revenue$year) +
labs(title = "Revenue trend", x = "Year", y = "Revenue, millions") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 14: Overplotting management
Needs improvement many overlapping points hide density.
```{r r14-bad}
library(ggplot2)
set.seed(7)
dense <- data.frame(x = rnorm(900), y = rnorm(900))
ggplot(dense, aes(x, y)) +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Customer scores", x = "Score A", y = "Score B") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart transparency reveals the concentration of observations.
```{r r14-good}
library(ggplot2)
set.seed(7)
dense <- data.frame(x = rnorm(900), y = rnorm(900))
ggplot(dense, aes(x, y)) +
geom_point(alpha = 0.25, size = 1.6) +
labs(title = "Customer scores with point density visible", x = "Score A", y = "Score B") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 15: Direct labeling when useful
Needs improvement the reader has to move between the legend and the lines.
```{r r15-bad}
library(ggplot2)
trend <- data.frame(
year = rep(2021:2025, 3),
product = rep(c("Basic", "Plus", "Pro"), each = 5),
revenue = c(10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 8, 11, 13, 16, 20, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24)
)
ggplot(trend, aes(year, revenue, colour = product)) +
geom_line(linewidth = 1) +
labs(title = "Revenue by product", x = "Year", y = "Revenue") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart direct labels reduce legend lookup.
```{r r15-good}
library(ggplot2)
trend <- data.frame(
year = rep(2021:2025, 3),
product = rep(c("Basic", "Plus", "Pro"), each = 5),
revenue = c(10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 8, 11, 13, 16, 20, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24)
)
end_labels <- trend[trend$year == 2025, ]
ggplot(trend, aes(year, revenue, colour = product)) +
geom_line(linewidth = 1) +
geom_text(data = end_labels, aes(label = product), hjust = -0.1, show.legend = FALSE) +
scale_x_continuous(breaks = 2021:2025, limits = c(2021, 2025.8)) +
labs(title = "Revenue by product", x = "Year", y = "Revenue") +
theme_minimal() +
theme(legend.position = "none")
```
### Rule 16: Visual hierarchy
Needs improvement everything has the same visual weight.
```{r r16-bad}
library(ggplot2)
trend <- data.frame(year = rep(2021:2025, 3), product = rep(c("Basic", "Plus", "Pro"), each = 5),
revenue = c(10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 8, 11, 13, 16, 20, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24))
ggplot(trend, aes(year, revenue, colour = product)) +
geom_line(linewidth = 1.1) +
labs(title = "Revenue by product", x = "Year", y = "Revenue") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the main series is emphasized and supporting series recede.
```{r r16-good}
library(ggplot2)
trend <- data.frame(year = rep(2021:2025, 3), product = rep(c("Basic", "Plus", "Pro"), each = 5),
revenue = c(10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 8, 11, 13, 16, 20, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24))
ggplot(trend, aes(year, revenue, group = product)) +
geom_line(data = subset(trend, product != "Pro"), colour = "grey70", linewidth = 0.8) +
geom_line(data = subset(trend, product == "Pro"), colour = "#8a3f24", linewidth = 1.4) +
labs(title = "Pro revenue is accelerating", x = "Year", y = "Revenue") +
theme_minimal()
```
## Integrity
### Rule 17: Truthful scale
Needs improvement a narrow y-axis range exaggerates a modest change.
```{r r17-bad}
library(ggplot2)
approval <- data.frame(month = 1:6, score = c(71, 72, 72, 73, 74, 75))
ggplot(approval, aes(month, score)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
coord_cartesian(ylim = c(70, 76)) +
labs(title = "Approval score", x = "Month", y = "Score") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the scale gives enough context for the magnitude.
```{r r17-good}
library(ggplot2)
approval <- data.frame(month = 1:6, score = c(71, 72, 72, 73, 74, 75))
ggplot(approval, aes(month, score)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
coord_cartesian(ylim = c(0, 100)) +
labs(title = "Approval score rose modestly", x = "Month", y = "Score out of 100") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 18: No distorted baseline
Needs improvement bars start away from zero, inflating differences.
```{r r18-bad}
library(ggplot2)
teams <- data.frame(team = c("A", "B", "C"), score = c(92, 95, 97))
ggplot(teams, aes(team, score)) +
geom_col(fill = "#4c78a8") +
coord_cartesian(ylim = c(90, 98)) +
labs(title = "Team scores", x = "Team", y = "Score") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart bars use a zero baseline.
```{r r18-good}
library(ggplot2)
teams <- data.frame(team = c("A", "B", "C"), score = c(92, 95, 97))
ggplot(teams, aes(team, score)) +
geom_col(fill = "#4c78a8") +
coord_cartesian(ylim = c(0, 100)) +
labs(title = "Team scores", x = "Team", y = "Score out of 100") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 19: Avoid misleading encodings
Needs improvement area-like bubbles can make differences look larger than the values.
```{r r19-bad}
library(ggplot2)
markets <- data.frame(market = c("A", "B", "C", "D"), share = c(12, 18, 24, 30))
ggplot(markets, aes(market, 1, size = share)) +
geom_point(colour = "#8a3f24", alpha = 0.7) +
scale_size(range = c(6, 28)) +
labs(title = "Market share", x = "Market", y = NULL, size = "Share") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart bar length supports more accurate comparison.
```{r r19-good}
library(ggplot2)
markets <- data.frame(market = c("A", "B", "C", "D"), share = c(12, 18, 24, 30))
ggplot(markets, aes(reorder(market, share), share)) +
geom_col(fill = "#4c78a8") +
coord_flip() +
labs(title = "Market share", x = "Market", y = "Share (%)") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 20: Handle outliers honestly
Needs improvement filtering removes the outlier without saying so.
```{r r20-bad}
library(ggplot2)
orders <- data.frame(order = 1:12, value = c(22, 24, 20, 23, 25, 21, 24, 26, 22, 23, 25, 80))
ggplot(subset(orders, value < 50), aes(order, value)) +
geom_point(size = 2.5) +
labs(title = "Order values", x = "Order", y = "Value") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart show the outlier and explain it.
```{r r20-good}
library(ggplot2)
orders <- data.frame(order = 1:12, value = c(22, 24, 20, 23, 25, 21, 24, 26, 22, 23, 25, 80))
ggplot(orders, aes(order, value)) +
geom_point(size = 2.5) +
annotate("label", x = 12, y = 80, label = "Bulk order", hjust = 1.05, size = 3) +
labs(title = "Order values with bulk order shown", x = "Order", y = "Value") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 21: Proportional areas
Needs improvement icon sizes are not proportional to the data.
```{r r21-bad}
library(ggplot2)
share <- data.frame(group = c("Small", "Medium", "Large"), value = c(10, 20, 40))
ggplot(share, aes(group, value, size = group)) +
geom_point(colour = "#8a3f24") +
scale_size_manual(values = c(8, 18, 30)) +
labs(title = "Group size", x = "Group", y = "Value") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart use bar length for proportional comparison.
```{r r21-good}
library(ggplot2)
share <- data.frame(group = c("Small", "Medium", "Large"), value = c(10, 20, 40))
ggplot(share, aes(group, value)) +
geom_col(fill = "#4c78a8") +
labs(title = "Group size", x = "Group", y = "Value") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 22: Uncertainty when needed
Needs improvement averages are shown without uncertainty.
```{r r22-bad}
library(ggplot2)
estimate <- data.frame(group = c("A", "B", "C"), mean = c(10, 13, 15), low = c(8, 10, 12), high = c(12, 16, 18))
ggplot(estimate, aes(group, mean)) +
geom_point(size = 3) +
labs(title = "Average outcome by group", x = "Group", y = "Mean outcome") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart intervals show uncertainty around the estimates.
```{r r22-good}
library(ggplot2)
estimate <- data.frame(group = c("A", "B", "C"), mean = c(10, 13, 15), low = c(8, 10, 12), high = c(12, 16, 18))
ggplot(estimate, aes(group, mean)) +
geom_errorbar(aes(ymin = low, ymax = high), width = 0.15) +
geom_point(size = 3, colour = "#4c78a8") +
labs(title = "Average outcome by group with uncertainty", x = "Group", y = "Mean outcome") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 23: Avoid cherry picking
Needs improvement the axis starts after the earlier decline.
```{r r23-bad}
library(ggplot2)
index <- data.frame(year = 2017:2026, value = c(120, 118, 114, 110, 112, 116, 119, 123, 126, 128))
ggplot(subset(index, year >= 2021), aes(year, value)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Index is rising", x = "Year", y = "Index") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart the broader range shows the full pattern.
```{r r23-good}
library(ggplot2)
index <- data.frame(year = 2017:2026, value = c(120, 118, 114, 110, 112, 116, 119, 123, 126, 128))
ggplot(index, aes(year, value)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
scale_x_continuous(breaks = 2017:2026) +
labs(title = "Index recovered after an earlier decline", x = "Year", y = "Index") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 24: Respect data granularity
Needs improvement discrete survey waves are connected as if the path between them is known.
```{r r24-bad}
library(ggplot2)
survey <- data.frame(wave = c("Wave 1", "Wave 2", "Wave 3", "Wave 4"), score = c(62, 66, 65, 70))
ggplot(survey, aes(wave, score, group = 1)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point(size = 2.5) +
labs(title = "Survey score by wave", x = "Wave", y = "Score") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart points show separate observations without implying continuous movement.
```{r r24-good}
library(ggplot2)
survey <- data.frame(wave = c("Wave 1", "Wave 2", "Wave 3", "Wave 4"), score = c(62, 66, 65, 70))
ggplot(survey, aes(wave, score)) +
geom_point(size = 3, colour = "#4c78a8") +
labs(title = "Survey score by wave", x = "Survey wave", y = "Score") +
theme_minimal()
```
### Rule 25: Neutral framing
Needs improvement loaded language tells the reader what to feel.
```{r r25-bad}
library(ggplot2)
costs <- data.frame(year = 2021:2025, cost = c(40, 42, 45, 48, 51))
ggplot(costs, aes(year, cost)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
labs(title = "Costs are exploding", x = "Year", y = "Cost") +
theme_minimal()
```
Better chart neutral wording describes the observed change.
```{r r25-good}
library(ggplot2)
costs <- data.frame(year = 2021:2025, cost = c(40, 42, 45, 48, 51))
ggplot(costs, aes(year, cost)) +
geom_line() +
geom_point() +
scale_x_continuous(breaks = costs$year) +
labs(title = "Costs increased from 2021 to 2025", x = "Year", y = "Cost") +
theme_minimal()
```