How to Create a Mekko Chart in Google Slides (Marimekko Guide)
Mekko charts are powerful tools for visualizing market share, competitive landscapes, and multi-dimensional data. Learn how to create them in Google Slides.
Table of Contents
What is a Mekko Chart?
A Mekko chart (also called Marimekko chart, after the Finnish design company) is a two-dimensional chart that displays data using variable-width columns. Unlike standard bar charts where all columns have the same width, Mekko chart column widths represent a second data dimension—typically market size or total value.
This makes Mekko charts ideal for showing both:
- Column width: Market size, revenue, or total volume
- Column height (segments): Market share, composition, or distribution
Why Consultants Love Mekko Charts:
Mekko charts pack two dimensions of data into a single visualization, making them incredibly efficient for executive presentations. A single Mekko chart can replace multiple pie charts or bar charts, telling a complete market story at a glance.
Common Use Cases
1. Market Share Analysis
Show how different competitors divide up markets of varying sizes. Column width = market size, segments = competitor share.
2. Competitive Landscape
Visualize competitor positioning across product categories or regions. Instantly see which players dominate which segments.
3. Product Portfolio Analysis
Compare product lines by revenue (width) and margin or growth (height). Identify which products drive profitability.
4. Customer Segment Analysis
Analyze customer segments by size (width) and value distribution (height). Understand where to focus acquisition efforts.
Creating Mekko Charts in Google Slides
Google Slides doesn't natively support Mekko charts. Here are your options:
Option 1: Manual Creation
You can manually create Mekko charts using shapes, but it's extremely time-consuming:
- Calculate proportional widths for each column
- Draw rectangles with exact dimensions
- Stack segments within each column
- Add labels and a legend manually
- Re-do everything when data changes
Time required: 45-90 minutes per chart
Option 2: SlidesChart (Recommended)
The fastest way to create Mekko charts in Google Slides:
Step-by-Step with SlidesChart:
- Install SlidesChart from Google Workspace Marketplace
- Open Add-ons → SlidesChart → Insert Chart
- Select "Mekko Chart"
- Enter your data:
- Categories: Enterprise, Mid-Market, SMB
- Widths: 50, 30, 20 (market sizes)
- Segments: Competitor A, B, C shares
- Click Insert
Time required: Under 3 minutes
SlidesChart Mekko Features:
Mekko Chart Best Practices
1. Limit Your Categories
Mekko charts work best with 3-7 columns. More than that becomes difficult to read. Combine smaller segments into "Other" if needed.
2. Order Columns by Size
Typically, arrange columns from largest to smallest (left to right). This creates a natural visual hierarchy and makes the chart easier to interpret.
3. Use Consistent Colors
Each segment (competitor, product, etc.) should have the same color across all columns. This allows viewers to track a single entity across the chart.
4. Label Wisely
Only label segments that are large enough to read. Use a legend for smaller segments. Include column width labels to show market sizes.
5. Add Context
Include a clear title explaining what the chart shows. Add units to the width axis (e.g., "$B" for billions in revenue).
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Cloud Services Market Share
Columns: IaaS ($50B), PaaS ($25B), SaaS ($120B)
Segments: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Others
This Mekko chart would show that while SaaS is the largest market (widest column), AWS dominates IaaS, while SaaS is more fragmented among many players.
Example 2: Regional Revenue by Product
Columns: North America ($800M), Europe ($400M), APAC ($600M)
Segments: Product A, Product B, Product C, Services
This reveals how product mix varies by region—perhaps Product A dominates in North America while Services lead in Europe.
Conclusion
Mekko charts are invaluable for market analysis and strategic presentations. While Google Slides doesn't support them natively, SlidesChart makes it easy to create professional Mekko charts in minutes rather than hours.
Whether you're analyzing market share, competitive landscapes, or product portfolios, a well-designed Mekko chart can communicate complex data more effectively than multiple simpler charts.
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