Briefle words · UI design
Direct labeling
Writing a series' name right next to its line or bar instead of in a separate legend.
Say it to an AI
Weekly active users by platform over six months. Use a takeaway title ("Web passed Android in July"), direct labeling at the end of each line instead of a legend, and a highlight color on Web only, with iOS and Android in grey. Keep the data-ink ratio high: three faint gridlines, no point markers.
How an expert would brief the stronger version of “Active users chart”.
See it
Try it as a puzzle →Growth chart on a product analytics dashboard for a note-taking app.
Why: A puts 'iOS 48k', 'Web 41k' and 'Android 33k' at the end of each line. B makes you match colors to a legend below the chart.
More ways experts use it
Line chart of monthly transactions by payment method, April to September. Use direct labeling: stop the lines short of the right edge and put each data series' name and last value at its line end, in the line's color, instead of a legend. Three faint gridlines and a takeaway title.
Payment methods chart · Data & charts
Related words
Room 1 · Essentials
Learn “Direct labeling” in a five-minute lesson