Chartjunk

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information

Chartjunk is all the unnecessary graphic elements that "try" to support statistical data. This article breaks them into 3 categories Vibrations, Grids and Ducks. Vibrations are repeating patterns and very busy designs. They can often be replaced with solid shading or color. Next are grids, these are referring to dark grids in particular. Rather than orient the user, they confuse and distract. The article suggests if you use a grid they should be very light not draw attention to themselves. Finally there is the duck which are graphic elements created to promote the design rather than the content. Pugin summed it up by saying "It is ok to decorate structure, but never construct decoration". Overall the artical was a good quick read, however because it was black and white and copied many times it was hard to view the examples.