DA0-002 Visualization and Reporting Practice Question
A dashboard designer wants to maximize the data-ink ratio. Which action should they take?
⚠ Common exam trap
DA0-002 often tests whether candidates recognize that decorative elements (logos, 3D, backgrounds) reduce the data-ink ratio, while removing clutter (gridlines, borders) increases it.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remove redundant gridlines
The data-ink ratio, a concept from Edward Tufte, is maximized by removing non-data ink — elements that do not convey information. Redundant gridlines add visual clutter without adding data value, so removing them directly increases the ratio. The other options all add non-data ink (3D effects, logos, colorful backgrounds) that reduce the ratio.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add a 3D effect to bars
Why it's wrong here
3D effects add perspective distortion and shading ink that encodes no additional data, reducing the ratio. They are tempting because they look visually striking in presentations, but the correct approach is flat two-dimensional bars, which let every drop of ink represent a value.
- ✗
Include a company logo in the chart area
Why it's wrong here
A logo inside the chart area consumes ink that carries no data, directly lowering the ratio. Logos are tempting for corporate branding on shared dashboards, but they belong in a header or footer outside the plotting region, leaving the chart area to encode values only.
- ✓
Remove redundant gridlines
Why this is correct
Redundant gridlines add ink without conveying data, so removing them raises the data-ink ratio, satisfying the dashboard designer's stated goal. The ratio measures data-bearing ink against total ink, and decorative chart furniture is the primary target for reduction.
- ✗
Use a colorful background
Why it's wrong here
A colourful background adds non-data ink that competes with the plotted marks, lowering the ratio rather than raising it. Backgrounds are tempting for branding or section separation, but Tufte's principle reserves ink for data; a plain white or neutral canvas would be the correct choice.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This DA0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DA0-002 exam.