You can make a bar chart useful for judging percentages if you (a) use a secondary axis with a percentage scale, (b) set the maximum of the value scale to the total of all bars, or (c) use data labels stating the percentages. I like choice (b), but if the longest bar is less than 50% you lose some resolution.

You can make a bar chart useful for judging percentages if you (a) use a secondary axis with a percentage scale, (b) set the maximum of the value scale to the total of all bars, or (c) use data labels stating the percentages. I like choice (b), but if the longest bar is less than 50% you lose some resolution.

although I spent a little time clicking around, and admit that the self organisation-bubbly-physics-thing was pretty cool, I didn’t actually read anything into the data at all.

in fact, I think – this time – the bubbly interaction and lack of a strong relationship between the data and its representation meant that the data itself was completely masked!

But props to the NYT for including the data, so design purists can create a bar chart if they really want one that much.

My beef with this one is that they could have used color and position to relate these categories to each other, and did not use them. Five categories have to do with different ways of getting the message out — the main business of a political campaign. The other two, payroll and a very large “other” (3rd largest out of 7!), support the mission but not directly. The relative sizes of the direct expenditures, and the comparison of that with the indirect, are not communicated here.

Bubbles can be fun, sure. My kids loved blowing soap bubbles outside on a nice day. Champagne has bubbles, so does beer. I don’t expect bubbles in a chart to make me feel the same alcoholic buzz.

The movement of the bubbles is distracting. The intent is to physically link up the selected bubble with the drilled down table/chart (which is properly presented as a bar chart sorted in descending order), and after 10 seconds of meandering this goal is accomplished, but everything has moved, and I’ve lost my reference. Why not start with a sorted bar chart (which does not require differently colored bars), and highlight the selected bar in a different color? Equally effective, without the detracting features.

Now, I love the NYT. Many of their charts manage to be aesthetically pleasant, informative, and make a good use of interaction.

The difference between good and bad playful infographics is that a good one actually helps you to learn more about the data, while with the bad one you just pull and push some bubbles with no apparent benefit.

Now, I love the NYT. Many of their charts manage to be aesthetically pleasant, informative, and make a good use of interaction.

The difference between good and bad playful infographics is that a good one actually helps you to learn more about the data, while with the bad one you just pull and push some bubbles with no apparent benefit.