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.
Make shapes, diagrams and charts in the browser. Download SVG or PNG — nothing is uploaded.
Work
- Work 1 — PowerPoint weekly: Data-ink for auditing slides, dashboards and science figures.
- Work 2 — One Data-ink on a quarterly bridge or KPI tile — not four.
- Work 3 — Build in Excel or Google Sheets, export SVG/PDF rather than a screenshot.
Ads
- Ads 1 — Meta, Google and retail print: one number, one shape, one arrow.
- Ads 2 — Keep callouts inside safe zones. No type in cropped corners.
- Ads 3 — If Data-ink will not fit a banner, keep the number and show the chart on the landing page.
School
- School 1 — lab reports and poster boards: does Data-ink answer the rubric?
- School 2 — Axis names, units, a source line. Markers read them.
- School 3 — Start with a mind map if you must; submit a figure that reads like Data-ink.
Steps
- Steps 1 — Write the claim in one sentence.
- Steps 2 — Check that Data-ink fits the claim. If not, switch.a poster that must shout from three metres — ads may keep some junk on purpose
- Steps 3 — Draw it flat in Excel or Google Sheets or PowerPoint.
- Steps 4 — Direct labels, faint grid, claim-title.
- Steps 5 — Check greyscale and a color-blind simulator.
- Steps 6 — Add source, period, units; export SVG/PDF.
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.