Some Guardian Graphics

When I used to hire designers I saw a lot if portfolios. One common comment was "this portfolio looks like it was done by different people." This was when the standard of the work used to be inconsistent

I see similar traits in the Guardian at the moment. They are generally very sound and are to be respected for dragging UK papers into the 21st century design-wise, but I see some inconsistency.

 

This CO2 bubble chart is a typical Guardian bubble chart style. It is a decent chart and the colours are very engaging. Nice.

Then there was this one a while ago.

 

This one is less a graphic - more an op-ed piece  - don't get me wrong - it's good to have visual op-ed (ask the NYT) but this graphic uses info-design vernacular (insinuated comparative volumes and presentation of hierarchy/ colour code) to make it's fun point - ( maybe I need to lighten up ). But in being accessible and fun, it failed to tell us how many people are on different wages etc - the list on the page is v interesting - answers the 'where am I?' question.

But the following is really not that good - some cut out shapes with a few volumetric bubbles - it's like some clip art got published accidentally - the pictographic effect may be fitting in tone for this data blog ares but it is a bit lazy looking - give us a list instead. (Does though make the one above look a lot more humane with plenty of people and faces.)

 
Is there an assumption that any data is worth visualising? 

Probably - but in my view,  information on it's own is not beautiful - but the articulation and editing of information certainly is in with a chance.

So come on Guardian - do the good stuff.