As a kid I grew up around a long, tall poster that showed the income levels of the population of the United States  . . . a huge bulge at the bottom, with the poverty line riding distressingly high on the bulge, and a thin, thin spire vaulting to the heavens showing the income of the elites.

This shape, and its significance, was engraved on my memory and I realize that, consciously or unconsciously, I mentally refer to it and navigate by it as I wrestle to understand social and political issues.

I've been looking for that poster for years. Although I haven't found that same one, I've found a young designer who has taken the same kind of information and made the same kind of powerful graphics --- Catherine Mulbrandon and her website Visualizing Economics.

Mulbrandon has put her twin background in economics and design to great use and the posters and gallery graphics she has available are amazing supports for conversations of all types. "How Much Do You Earn?" and "How Rich is the United States?" are instant classics.

I want these posters in the room any time I talk society and politics . . . hanging right beside the computer screen that connects to Google Earth.

Mulbrandon states her goals thusly: "While the Internet allows even greater access to economic data than ever before, much of it is hidden in databases, spreadsheets and academic papers. At the same time, the discussion of economics in the media can be confusing and contradictory. Often numbers are quoted out of context, while political agendas distort the presentation of economic data. The goal of this site is to help people who are interested in economics (but are not experts) to understand and gain insight in the subject through intuitive and beautiful data visualizations."

Mulbrandon's design lives up to her ideals. Her work is clear, powerful, deep and eminently useful.