RESPONSE:

Chartjunk refers to visual elements in charts, plots, graphs etc that are not required to present in the pictorial representation, or something that distracts the viewer from the information.

Professor Edward Tufte has coined this by mentioning this as “Style over substance”. i.e. the interior decoration of graphics GENERATES a lot of INK that does not tell the viewer anything new. Below are a few examples of chartjunk.

Three common types of chartjunk are as follows:

• Unintentional optical art
• The dreaded grid
• The self-promoting graphical duck

Example of unintentional optical art can be shown as per the example below.

These are nothing but illusions and unwanted effects rather than conveying what should be ideally conveyed.

Example of the dreaded grid can be shown as per the example below.

If we look at it – gridlines convey no information, dark gridlines are chartjunk. If gridlines are needed, they should be light grey.

Why do we create chartjunk – primarily because of the following ASPECTS:

• Lack of quantitative skills of professional artists
• The belief that statistical data are boring
• Graphics are only for the UNSOPHISTICATED reader