Redesigning USA Today’s six COVID-19 charts: a data visualization exercise in data-ink maximization
The original charts call too much attention to the least important data
3 min readJul 28, 2020
USA Today on Sunday, July 26, 2020, published this article
It features these six charts.
I studied data visualization and storytelling for the last month and a half.
- One gripe I had with four of these six charts was their unnecessary over-use of data-ink. That is one inherent flaw in using bar or column charts to visually represent large quantities of data.
- Another gripe is how the most important data points in each chart are closest to the chart’s frame.
- A final gripe is the relatively small font size of the highlighted value corresponding to the most important data point
Here’s a before-and-after of the Unemployment Rate chart
Improvements in the new, drastically simplified and condensed chart
- Timeline is compressed to bring the bookended data points closer together for easier comparison
- Values that label the two interesting data points are the largest numbers in the chart
- Color is used to call attention to the most important number in the chart. And to connect it with the portion of the short headline that references it.
- Thick bars are used to visually dramatize the two important data points. Thinner lines are used to depict the less important trend over time.
Another before-and-after of GDP
The same improvements were made to more quickly draw attention to the stark contrast of the bookended data points.
The design trend continues for the remaining four charts.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of all six charts.
This was a delightful exercise in maximizing data-ink for the purpose of helping the reader more quickly understand what the author wanted to share.
