Data-ink encodes values as the share of ink that represents data versus decoration. Edward Tufte, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 1983.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits auditing slides, dashboards and science figures. Skip it when a poster that must shout from three metres — ads may keep some junk on purpose.
Parts
- Mark — The core mark of Data-ink is the share of ink that represents data versus decoration.
- Scale — The scale must show zero (or a declared break) and units.
- Axis — Axis titles name the variable, not a mood.
- Legend — A legend is weaker than a direct label. Write beside the mark when you can.
- Label — Numbers are optional. If comparison is the job, label the ends only.
- Grid — Keep the grid faint. Data should own the ink.
- Annotation — One annotation sentence. Date the source.
- Frame — A thin frame. Never a 3-D box.
Variants
- Chartjunk audit — Variant 1 of Data-ink. Same encoding, different layout.
- Tufte ratio — Variant 2 of Data-ink. Same encoding, different layout.
- Erase-non-data — Variant 3 of Data-ink. Same encoding, different layout.
- Data-ink 4 — Variant 4 of Data-ink. Same encoding, different layout.
Labels
- Axis — On Data-ink, make Mark readable.
- Legend — On Data-ink, make Scale readable.
- Label — On Data-ink, make Axis readable.
- Grid — On Data-ink, make Legend readable.
- Annotation — On Data-ink, make Label readable.
Data-ink: honour the share of ink that represents data versus decoration, and switch when a poster that must shout from three metres — ads may keep some junk on purpose.