3:Q's The Principle of Proportional Ink

by Philip Glenn

The Principle of Proportional Ink 3:Q's

  1. Are these charts and graph meant to be read for accurate information or for a larger takeaway from the data which can be described in greater detail through writing?

  2. The author didn't make a strong case against "compensat[ing] for this bias in human perception." he gives an example of a poorly done bubble chart, but this doesn't discredit an attempt at altering the formal structures to convey the data accurately to perception (which is the entire point of this article).The concept of Proportional as the ultimate truth seems limiting, as if there is "a" truth or correctness in the presentation of information. Why wouldn't you make information perceptually accurate over "Proportional inked"?

  3. The "ink" metaphor seems archaic in this conversation, as it alludes to a method of displaying information that is static set and represented via the area of "color" or lack of "color", but this information could be represented through a variety of means such as light, sound, interaction, or movement. Why did he choose to use ink over Proportional Representation?