Creating Charts in Excel that Look Like They're from The Economist

TLDRLearn how to replicate three charts from The Economist in Excel, including dynamic bar charts, connected dot plots, and color-coded visuals.

Key insights

📊Creating charts in Excel that resemble those from The Economist is a popular request among Excel users.

📈Dynamic bar charts with top titles, compact designs, and clear connections between categories and bars can be created in Excel.

🔗Connected dot plots, also known as dumbbell charts, are effective for highlighting changes or comparing values between two periods.

🎨Color-coded visuals can be used to represent different categories and convey information effectively.

📐Excel offers new methods and functions, such as XLOOKUP and UNIQUE, to create more dynamic and visually appealing charts.

Q&A

What types of charts from The Economist can be replicated in Excel?

Three types of charts can be replicated: dynamic bar charts with top titles, connected dot plots for highlighting changes, and color-coded visuals based on different categories.

What functions and methods are used to create dynamic charts in Excel?

Functions like XLOOKUP and UNIQUE, along with conditional formatting and table formatting, can be used to create dynamic charts in Excel.

How can color-coded visuals be used effectively in Excel charts?

Color-coded visuals can be used to represent different categories or data points, making it easier to convey information and understand the data.

What are the benefits of creating charts in Excel similar to those from The Economist?

Creating charts in Excel that resemble those from The Economist allows users to present data in a more professional and visually appealing manner.

Are there any recommended add-ins or tools for creating advanced charts in Excel?

Think-Cell is a popular add-in that can help users create advanced and professional charts in Excel, reducing the time spent on creating and formatting the charts.

Timestamped Summary

00:00The video demonstrates how to replicate three charts from The Economist in Excel.

10:47Think-Cell, an add-in for PowerPoint, is introduced as a tool to create professional and efficient charts for business presentations.

12:45A connected dot plot, also known as a 'dumbbell chart', is explained as an effective way to highlight changes or compare values between two periods.

14:31The video demonstrates a method to replicate color-coded visuals like a heat map in Excel, using conditional formatting and image shapes from PowerPoint.

18:39The presenter provides a template and upcoming Business Charts course to help users create charts that resemble those from McKinsey.