When presenters need to communicate a range of values, they usually use a table from a spreadsheet. The data is accurate, but it makes the audience do a lot of math to figure out the message. This slide makeover shows how you can use a trick in a stacked bar chart in Excel or PowerPoint to create a graph that visually shows the range of values.

1. Slide Makeover
Video Podcast #81:
Showing a range of values
Based on Dave Paradi’s ideas at
www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com

2. When presenters need to
communicate a range of values,
they usually use a table from a
spreadsheet, like this …

3. Midsized car prices
Min Max Range
Our Brand $23,500 $31,500 $ 8,000
Brand B $39,000 $51,000 $12,000
Brand M $29,000 $35,000 $ 6,000
Brand J $32,000 $36,000 $ 4,000

4. The information is accurate, but it
doesn’t effectively communicate
the message that our midsized
cars are more affordable than the
vehicles from our competitors.

5. Midsized car prices
Min Max Range
Our Brand $23,500 $31,500 $ 8,000
Brand B $39,000 $51,000 $12,000
Brand M $29,000 $35,000 $ 6,000
Brand J $32,000 $36,000 $ 4,000
The audience would have to do
a lot of math to figure out that
most of our midsized cars are
more affordable

6. A better approach is to use a range
of values graph. Here’s what I
turned the original table into.

7. Our cars are more affordable than
similar cars from other manufacturers
$0 $10 $20 $30 $40 $50 $60
Our Brand
Brand B
Brand M
Brand J
Price range of midsize car models
Thousands

8. The ranges are shown along the
horizontal axis that represents
cost. It is easy for the audience to
see where the range lies and how
big it is. It is created by using a
stacked bar graph with one
segment set to be invisible.

9. Our cars are more affordable than
similar cars from other manufacturers
$0 $10 $20 $30 $40 $50 $60
Our Brand
Brand B
Brand M
Brand J
Price range of midsize car models
Thousands
The segment from the
vertical axis to the
minimum value is
invisible

10. It may look complicated to create
this type of graph, but it really isn’t
that hard. It uses the stacked bar
chart built in to Excel or
PowerPoint. The value of the first
invisible segment is the minimum
value and the value of the second
segment is the range.

11. It is important to also focus the
audience on the one segment that
we want to draw their attention to.
In this case, it is the segment that
represents our midsized vehicles.
This can be done by using a muted
color for the other segments and a
bold color for our segment.

12. Our cars are more affordable than
similar cars from other manufacturers
$0 $10 $20 $30 $40 $50 $60
Our Brand
Brand B
Brand M
Brand J
Price range of midsize car models
Thousands
This segment stands out
and draws the focus of
the audience because it
has a bold color

13. Before After
Lessons:
1. Show the range visually so the audience can easily compare the
ranges and positions along the measurement axis
2. Use color to focus attention on one range
3. Explore how making elements of a graph invisible can create an
effective visual
Quick recap:
More makeovers available at www.SlideMakeoverVideos.com

14. If you would like me to help
your team create presentations
that have a clear message with
focused content and effective
visuals, get in touch:
P: 905-510-4911
E: Dave@ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com
W: www.ThinkOutsideTheSlide.com