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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Use of Graphics and References for Business Communication

A report contains a chart that uses a colour-coded series: red, orange and green lines for three regions. The report will be circulated in black-and-white print, and some readers are colour-blind. Which revision best follows good design principles?

Use distinct line styles or markers and direct labels in addition to colour. This keeps the three regions distinguishable in black-and-white print and for colour-blind readers. Adding colours, deleting the legend or shrinking the chart would make the series harder, not easier, to identify.

  1. AAdd more colours so each point is unique
  2. BRemove the legend to reduce clutter
  3. CUse distinct line styles or markers and direct labels in addition to colourCorrect
  4. DShrink the chart so the lines are less noticeable

Explanation

Good design must not rely on colour alone. Distinct line styles, markers and direct labels let the series be told apart in greyscale and by colour-blind readers. More colours worsen the problem, removing the legend removes identification, and shrinking reduces legibility.

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