We use cookies, including third-party cookies from Google to serve personalized ads through AdSense, to operate this site and understand how it is used. By continuing to browse, you accept this use. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for details, including how to opt out of personalized advertising.
Accept
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    What Kind of Problem-Solving Distinguishes Data Analysts From Software Engineers -- AI-generated illustration
    What Kind of Problem-Solving Distinguishes Data Analysts From Software Engineers
    7 Min Read
    chatgpt image jul 21, 2026, 04 34 30 pm
    4 Core Benefits of Predictive Maintenance after Vibration Analysis
    10 Min Read
    How Does Data Mining Boost Customer Satisfaction in Logistics? Harnessing Analytics for Results -- AI-generated illustration
    How Does Data Mining Boost Customer Satisfaction in Logistics? Harnessing Analytics for Results
    11 Min Read
    chatgpt image jul 13, 2026, 04 23 45 pm
    How Data Analytics Helps Companies Improve User Engagement
    19 Min Read
    chatgpt image jul 13, 2026, 03 59 46 pm
    How Data Analytics Improves Multi-Location Search Strategies
    10 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Bad 3D Pie Chart Alert! By Scientific American no less!
Share
Notification
Font ResizerAa
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Big Data > Data Quality > Bad 3D Pie Chart Alert! By Scientific American no less!
AnalyticsCommentaryData QualityData Visualization

Bad 3D Pie Chart Alert! By Scientific American no less!

AnniePettit
AnniePettit
2 Min Read
Bad 3D Pie Chart Alert! By Scientific American no less!
Photo by kaboompics on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/calculator-scientific-numbers-791833/)
SHARE

Well, this is a stunning piece of poor quality work by a respected magazine! I’m not sure if I can even list all of the ways in which it skews and misrepresents the data.

Let’s start with the plain fact that it’s in 3D which means the slices of the pie bear no relation to the numbers they are intended to represent. Add to that, the depth dimension (the red/brown section) which isn’t noticeable until you read the legend and by some strange chance see the extra label. Then, we’ve got pies arrows pointing in all different directions so the location of each pie actually has little relation to where they are placed on the map. Top things off with some horrible colour choices which follow no traditional conventions other than being the author’s favourite colours or matching the theme of the issue that month. Sure, I like pink, but really?

Chart at your own risk, but watch out for the pie chart nazis. Bad charts WILL be caught!

More Read

Some Thoughts on Measuring Consumer Marketing’s Affect on the Path to Purchase
Some Thoughts on Measuring Consumer Marketing’s Affect on the Path to Purchase
Location Intelligence and Mobile BI: Advancing Data Analysis in the Healthcare Industry
Socializing Self-service Data Preparation to Enhance Accessibility and Governance
R Script Creates a Map of Worldwide Email Traffic
Does It Take a Scientist to Find Gold in Big Data?
Share This Article
Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn
Share

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

What Kind of Problem-Solving Distinguishes Data Analysts From Software Engineers -- AI-generated illustration
What Kind of Problem-Solving Distinguishes Data Analysts From Software Engineers
Analytics Big Data Exclusive Software
Flat editorial illustration: The article examines AI agents that escalate from legitimate data retrieval to attempted intrusions
OpenAI’s Government Website Incidents Raise a Hard Question for AI Agents: When Should They Stop?
Artificial Intelligence News Security
Flat editorial illustration: The article's core relationship is the alignment between customer behavioral data (visit frequency,
Data-Driven Loyalty: How Restaurants Use Behavioral Analytics to Optimize Revenue
Exclusive
Flat editorial illustration: The article's core relationship is that reliable eCommerce attribution depends on a unified, well-st
How eCommerce Data Teams Can Build Attribution That Holds Up
Big Data Exclusive

Stay Connected

1.2KFollowersLike
33.7KFollowersFollow
222FollowersPin

You Might also Like

Using Data Analytics and QR Codes to Boost Your Marketing Strategy
Analytics

Using Data Analytics and QR Codes to Boost Your Marketing Strategy

8 Min Read
In Praise of Industry Models
Business IntelligenceData WarehousingModeling

In Praise of Industry Models

5 Min Read
The Anachronism Machine: The Language of Downton Abbey
AnalyticsCommentaryData Visualization

The Anachronism Machine: The Language of Downton Abbey

4 Min Read
IT: Get the Emphasis on the Right Word (Hint: It’s not the 'T')
AnalyticsBest PracticesBusiness IntelligenceExclusive

IT: Get the Emphasis on the Right Word (Hint: It’s not the ‘T’)

8 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

Artificial Intelligence for eCommerce: A Closer Look
Artificial Intelligence for eCommerce: A Closer Look
Artificial Intelligence
AI chatbots
AI Chatbots Can Help Retailers Convert Live Broadcast Viewers into Sales!
Chatbots

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-26 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?