Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When should I pick Data-ink?
When the story is: auditing slides, dashboards and science figures.
When should I avoid Data-ink?
Skip it in cases like: a poster that must shout from three metres — ads may keep some junk on purpose.
Who invented or popularised it?
Edward Tufte, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 1983
What does it encode?
the share of ink that represents data versus decoration
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.
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.
Use when
- Use when 1 — Use Data-ink when the story is auditing slides, dashboards and science figures.
- Use when 2 — Build the first draft in Excel or Google Sheets, then restyle — do not screenshot.
- Use when 3 — In PowerPoint, one Data-ink per slide, claim in the title.
- Use when 4 — For lab reports and poster boards, this form works when the question is comparison or process.
- Use when 5 — In Meta, Google and retail print, keep one number visible at thumbnail size.
Avoid when
- Avoid when 1 — Skip Data-ink in cases like: a poster that must shout from three metres — ads may keep some junk on purpose.
- Avoid when 2 — 3-D, dual axes, rainbow scales
- Avoid when 3 — Undated numbers, undated time series
- Avoid when 4 — Four charts on one slide
Audiences
- Work — PowerPoint
- Ads — Meta, Google and retail print
- School — lab reports and poster boards
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.