Chart Smart

Last updated:

Nov 9th, 2026

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Before/After Data Visualization Makeovers, Decluttering, Line Charts

Ann K. Emery creates before-after data visualization makeovers, transforming busy charts into simplified takeaways.

Earlier this year, I was invited back to speak at CreativePro’s Presentation Design Conference for a second time.

First, in this “Chart Smart” session, we learned about alternatives to overused charts like pies, bars, and spaghetti lines.

Then, we looked at before-after makeovers together.

Here’s one of the “before” graphs we looked at:

And here’s how we transformed it into the “after” graph, which is easier to read (thanks to the decluttering) and states the takeaway message (to remove guesswork).

Want the full copy of the slides?

You can purchase them here: https://depictdatastudio.kit.com/products/chartsmart

More about Ann K. Emery
Ann K. Emery is a sought-after speaker who is determined to get your data out of spreadsheets and into stakeholders’ hands. Each year, she leads more than 100 workshops, webinars, and keynotes for thousands of people around the globe. Her design consultancy also overhauls graphs, publications, and slideshows with the goal of making technical information easier to understand for non-technical audiences.

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