tufte-viz
Applies Tufte’s graphical integrity principles to improve data-ink ratios and visual clarity.
Install
mkdir -p .claude/skills/tufte-viz && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/10998" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/tufte-viz && rm skill.zipInstalls to .claude/skills/tufte-viz
Activation
This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.
Ideate and critique data visualizations using Edward Tufte's principles from "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information." Use this skill when: (1) Designing new data visualizations or charts (2) Critiquing or improving existing visualizations (3) Reviewing dashboards or reports for graphical integrity (4) Deciding between visualization approaches (5) Reducing chartjunk or improving data-ink ratio (6) Planning small multiples or high-density displays Applies principles: data-ink ratio, chartjunk elimination, graphical integrity, lie factor, small multiples, and data density.Key capabilities
- →Critique existing data visualizations for graphical integrity
- →Design new charts using Tufte principles
- →Identify and remove chartjunk
- →Evaluate data-ink ratios
- →Plan small multiples and high-density displays
How it works
The skill applies principles like the data-ink ratio and lie factor to evaluate or create visualizations. It uses a structured checklist to ensure graphical integrity and minimize clutter.
Inputs & outputs
When to use tufte-viz
- →Improving dashboard clarity
- →Eliminating visualization chartjunk
- →Selecting chart types for data density
About this skill
Tufte Visualization Ideation
Apply Edward Tufte's principles to design clear, honest, high-density data visualizations.
Workflow
For new visualizations:
-
Clarify the data story
- What comparisons matter?
- What's the key insight to communicate?
- Who's the audience?
-
Select approach using Tufte principles:
- High comparison need → Small multiples
- Dense data → Consider data tables, sparklines
- Time-series → Line charts with minimal grid
- Part-to-whole → Avoid pie charts; prefer bar/table
-
Design with data-ink in mind
- Start minimal, add only what's necessary
- Every element must earn its ink
- Default to grayscale; use color purposefully
-
Apply the Tufte test (see references/tufte-principles.md)
For critiquing visualizations:
-
Check graphical integrity
- Calculate lie factor if proportions seem off
- Verify baselines and scales
- Look for 3D distortion
-
Identify chartjunk
- Decorative elements
- Heavy grids
- Unnecessary 3D effects
- Moiré patterns
-
Evaluate data-ink ratio
- What can be erased?
- What's redundant?
-
Suggest improvements with specific before/after recommendations
Key Principles Reference
references/tufte-principles.md— core principles from Visual Display of Quantitative Information: lie factor, data-ink, chartjunk, small multiples, integrity.references/analytical-design.md— extensions from Envisioning Information, Visual Explanations, and Beautiful Evidence: the 6 principles of analytical design, sparklines, layering & separation, micro/macro, range-frames, causality, confections. Load when designing dashboards, dense displays, sparklines, or explanatory graphics.
Quick checklist:
- Lie Factor ≈ 1.0 (no visual distortion)
- Maximum data-ink ratio
- Zero chartjunk
- Clear labeling
- Answers "compared to what?"
- Shows causality or mechanism where relevant
- Multivariate (not over-reduced)
- Words, numbers, images integrated — not segregated
- Reveals multiple levels of detail (micro + macro)
- Layering: primary data dominates, secondary recedes
- Appropriate data density
When not to use it
- →When the visualization does not require quantitative integrity
- →When the goal is purely decorative rather than communicative
Limitations
- →Requires manual interpretation of graphical integrity
- →Subjective evaluation of chartjunk
How it compares
Unlike generic design tools, this skill specifically enforces Edward Tufte's academic principles for quantitative information display.
Compared to similar skills
tufte-viz side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.
| Skill | Installs | Updated | Safety | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tufte-viz (this skill) | 0 | 2mo | No flags | Intermediate |
| ui-ux-pro-max | 1,909 | 5mo | Review | Intermediate |
| infographic-creation | 120 | 3mo | Review | Beginner |
| penpot-uiux-design | 27 | 6mo | Review | Advanced |
Try saying
Example prompts that trigger this skill in your AI assistant.
You might also like
ui-ux-pro-max
nextlevelbuilder
UI/UX design intelligence. 50 styles, 21 palettes, 50 font pairings, 20 charts, 8 stacks (React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, SwiftUI, React Native, Flutter, Tailwind). Actions: plan, build, create, design, implement, review, fix, improve, optimize, enhance, refactor, check UI/UX code. Projects: website, landing page, dashboard, admin panel, e-commerce, SaaS, portfolio, blog, mobile app, .html, .tsx, .vue, .svelte. Elements: button, modal, navbar, sidebar, card, table, form, chart. Styles: glassmorphism, claymorphism, minimalism, brutalism, neumorphism, bento grid, dark mode, responsive, skeuomorphism, flat design. Topics: color palette, accessibility, animation, layout, typography, font pairing, spacing, hover, shadow, gradient.
infographic-creation
antvis
Create beautiful infographics based on the given text content. Use this when users request creating infographics.
penpot-uiux-design
github
Comprehensive guide for creating professional UI/UX designs in Penpot using MCP tools. Use this skill when: (1) Creating new UI/UX designs for web, mobile, or desktop applications, (2) Building design systems with components and tokens, (3) Designing dashboards, forms, navigation, or landing pages, (4) Applying accessibility standards and best practices, (5) Following platform guidelines (iOS, Android, Material Design), (6) Reviewing or improving existing Penpot designs for usability. Triggers: "design a UI", "create interface", "build layout", "design dashboard", "create form", "design landing page", "make it accessible", "design system", "component library".
ui-ux-designer
sickn33
Create interface designs, wireframes, and design systems. Masters user research, accessibility standards, and modern design tools. Specializes in design tokens, component libraries, and inclusive design. Use PROACTIVELY for design systems, user flows, or interface optimization.
algorithmic-art
anthropics
Creating algorithmic art using p5.js with seeded randomness and interactive parameter exploration. Use this when users request creating art using code, generative art, algorithmic art, flow fields, or particle systems. Create original algorithmic art rather than copying existing artists' work to avoid copyright violations.
design-research
mevans2120
Conducts user experience research and analysis to inform design decisions. Reviews first-party and third-party user data, analyzes industry trends from UX and visual design perspectives, and plans user research studies. Creates personas, customer segments, design principles, design roadmaps, and research discussion guides.