Pie diagrams, or pie charts, are a popular way to visualize data in PowerPoint. With their circular design divided into slices, pie diagrams provide an easy-to-understand breakdown of the parts that comprise a whole.
If you’re new to PowerPoint and looking for a beginner’s guide on how to make a pie diagram from scratch, you’ve come to the right place! This article walks through the step-by-step process of creating pie diagrams in PowerPoint.
Beginner’s Guide to Pie Diagrams in PowerPoint
Pie diagrams, or pie charts, are a popular way to visualize data in PowerPoint. With their circular design divided into slices, pie diagrams provide an easy-to-understand breakdown of the parts that comprise a whole.
If you’re new to PowerPoint and looking for a beginner’s guide on how to make a pie diagram from scratch, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step process of creating pie diagrams in PowerPoint.
What is a Pie Diagram?
A pie diagram depicts numerical data in the form of circle slices. Each slice represents a category or segment of data, and the size of the slice is proportional to its value relative to the whole. Pie diagrams are ideal for displaying data with a small number of categories (usually less than 6 or 7).Â
Some common examples of data shown in pie diagrams include:
- Company revenue by department
- Market share by competitor
- Survey responses by answer choiceÂ
- Budget breakdown by expense category
Pie diagrams are useful for quickly conveying parts-to-whole relationships in a visually appealing way. Their simplicity makes them a great choice for beginners learning data visualization.
When to Use a Pie Diagram?
Pie diagrams work best when you want to:
- Show percentage or proportional data
- Highlight individual data categoriesÂ
- Demonstrate how parts contribute to a whole
- Present a small number of data categories (usually less than 7)
Pie diagrams are less ideal when you have the following:
- A large number of data categories
- Very similar data values between categories
- Need to make precise comparisons between slices
How to Make a Pie Diagram in PowerPoint
Ready to make your first pie diagram? Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Enter your data into a table: Start by organizing your data into a simple table. Keep the number of rows/categories to less than 7 for easy readability.
2. Select your data: Highlight the data you want to include in the pie diagram, including the category labels and values.
3. Go to the Insert tab and click Pie: This will open the pie diagram options. Select the 2D pie diagram style you want to use.
4. Edit the default chart: Once inserted, the chart will display the default sample data. You can replace this with your data by clicking on the chart and opening the associated Excel worksheet.
5. Format and style your pie diagram: Customize colors, add labels, adjust size – make it your own! Explore options on the Chart Design and Chart Format tabs.
And that’s it – you now have a professional-looking pie diagram in PowerPoint!
Advanced Pie Diagram Features
Once you’ve mastered the basics, try some of these advanced pie diagram features:
- 3D view – Add depth and dimension with 3D rotation
- Exploded slices – Isolate key slices by pulling them out from the center
- Pie of pie – Break out smaller slices into a secondary pie diagram
- Doughnut chart – Turn your pie into a doughnut by adding a hole in the middle
Tips to Enhance the Pie Chart Effect
The following are some of the essential tips make your pie chart look appealing:
Use Minimal Slices
Limiting your pie diagram to 6 or fewer slices makes it easier for your audience to interpret and compare the different categories quickly. With too many slices, the slivers get too small, and their differences become less distinct. If you have more than 6 data points, consider consolidating or grouping some categories into an “Other” slice to simplify the chart.
Highlight Key Slices
Draw attention to the 1-2 most important slices for your message by visually distinguishing them. Some ways to highlight key slices include:
- Pulling them out from the rest of the pie using the explode feature
- Making them a larger size than other slices
- Using a contrasting or brighter color from the color palette
- Adding unique textures or pattern fills
- Including callout text boxes to label significant slices
Include Informative Data Labels
Don’t just label your slices with category names. Add descriptive labels with values or percentages to tell the full data story. Include:
- The actual data values for each slice
- The percentage of the whole that each slice represents
- Relevant category names or descriptions
- Position labels close to each slice so the relationship is clear.
Pick Distinctive Colors
Use highly differentiated colors between slices so viewers can instantly distinguish one from another. Avoid similar shades and opt for colors spaced widely on the color wheel. Also be mindful of colorblindness by avoiding red/green combinations.
Display Percentages
While the proportional sizes of the slices represent the data relationships, adding percentages directly to the slices removes all doubt. Displaying the percentage value on each slice makes comprehending the size differences effortless for your audience.
Keep It Simple
Cluttered pie charts with too many slices, heavy borders, backgrounds, 3D effects, etc. can be difficult to read. Stick to flat, 2D designs with enough white space and only essential chart elements. Use clean fonts, minimal gridlines, and standard slice spacing for a straightforward, easy-to-understand pie diagram.
Conclusion
Pie charts are an excellent beginner-friendly way to present proportional data in PowerPoint. You can create clear and compelling pie charts by following the simple steps to insert a pie chart, customize its design, and enhance its effectiveness with tips like minimizing slices and highlighting key data.
Pie charts allow audiences to grasp parts-to-whole relationships at a glance. With the right data and a well-designed layout, pie charts can be an impactful addition to any beginner’s PowerPoint deck.