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Quick answers
When should I pick D3 custom craft?
When the story is: novel forms, research figures, bespoke explainers.
When should I avoid D3 custom craft?
Skip it in cases like: a Chart.js bar already answers the manager question.
Who invented or popularised it?
Mike Bostock D3 (2011) - still the craft backbone of custom viz
What does it encode?
data joins to SVG/Canvas marks with explicit scales
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
D3 custom craft encodes values as data joins to SVG/Canvas marks with explicit scales. Mike Bostock D3 (2011) - still the craft backbone of custom viz.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits novel forms, research figures, bespoke explainers. Skip it when a Chart.js bar already answers the manager question.
Mistakes
- Failure modes 1 — a Chart.js bar already answers the manager question
- Failure modes 2 — 3-D pies and perspective bars
- Failure modes 3 — Dual axes that fake a correlation
- Failure modes 4 — Truncated axes that shout a small delta
- Failure modes 5 — Legend only, no direct labels
- Failure modes 6 — Missing source, unit or period
Fixes
- Fixes 1 — Return to novel forms, research figures, bespoke explainers.
- Fixes 2 — Flat, one axis, direct labels.
- Fixes 3 — Color-blind-safe palette plus pattern.
- Fixes 4 — Rewrite the title as a claim and add a source line.
D3 custom craft: honour data joins to SVG/Canvas marks with explicit scales, and switch when a Chart.js bar already answers the manager question.