My graph just doesn't feel right

Do you have Keynote? It can create great graphs for you.
http://creativebits.org/iwork/create_animated_charts_keynote

Keynote rocks when it comes to graphs and charts. Get it - it's only $40 (ish).

You can easily export to jpeg or similar, and some of the styles are actually quite lucious.

In what way doesn't it feel right -is it the way it portrays the information or the feel of the chart compared to the rest of the plan, for example?

It looks like a pretty good chart to me (depending on what it shows).

To aid readability you could add in horizontal guiding lines at each of the vertical increments (and perhaps half increments). These would give an extra frame of reference against which people could compare the three years's results, and would allow readers to track results more closely across to the figures on the left. Another advantage of these guide lines could be that they define a clear block around the graph.

(you should probably also mark up the left axis).

I have the same problem, the answers didn´t help me, are there more hints?

Try to add a bit of 3D, lighting, bright colors. high contrast.
Something like this: http://www.bartelme.at/journal/archive/creating_graphs

Do you have illustrator?

Draw your chart 'blocks' and pathfinder merge them.

The use the 3d/extrude tool to make them more solid. Add a little perspective and you're away. You can even use the 'map art' function to add texture to the blocks, and check out the different 3D bevels you can apply.

Then simply add the horizontal axis lines by hand.

Finally, bring into photoshop and add final flourishes such as shadows, highlights etc...

Sounds like hard work, but it isn't really.

That's how I'd do it if I didn't have Keynote :)

Why would you want to display two dimentional information with a pseudo-3D look?

Charts are there to display data in a clear, concise and engaging way. Making them 3D potentially makes them more engaging as stand-alone items - but as part of a wider document it just adds clutter (unless, of course, it's part of the visual language of that document as a whole).

yeah, i have to say i agree with alex.

it's one thing to make something more of an infographic style chart (for example, USAToday style charts that use icons or illustrations to create the charts). it's another thing to add dimension just for the sake of adding dimension.

What does "strict and conservative" mean here? Answer this question and you will then know what to do with your graph.