The field of data visualization is an emerging science. The growth of affordable CPU and storage capacity has exponentially expanded data availability. The volume and complexity of data have evolved past the human mind’s fantastic capacity to store, categorize and make sense of it all.

Data visualization simply transfers data into a picture that the mind can immediately process and retain. Our visualization tools are designed to show data in at least two dimensions. Actual results vs. a forecast or performance over time are simple examples of data relationships ideally designed into dashboards.

From a design standpoint, a dashboard must showcase the previously identified metrics and corresponding forecasts in a highly organized and visually compelling manner. Metrics must be relevant to the user’s job function, level of authority, and scope of responsibility. The relationships between performance and expectations must be immediately obvious. The user interface for navigation and tools to drag and drop elements for “on the fly” comparisons must be intuitive.

Click on any Step above to see details

Story Board

The storyboard is composed of a series of static presentation pages designed to show: graphic themes, categories of the data that will be used to populate, and a sample progression of views. The term storyboard is borrowed from motion picture and television commercial production. A storyboard lays out the visual sequence of a feature or commercial and shows major images and dialog. The storyboard sequentially tells “the story” of how the dashboard will display images and provide interactivity.

Wire Frames

Wireframes are an outline view of a dashboard. We use simple boxes/circles/labels to describe main visualization areas, primary navigation, and key data elements of a dashboard. Much like preliminary architectural sketches of a building, wireframes demonstrate structure, and key features of each major hierarchal view.

Static Prototype

Non functional graphic representation of the dashboard. This is final design review, and Client approves design from these mockups, prior to TDC’s building prototypes

User Map

The user map is graphic representation and written description of user levels, viewing authority, and access. Users are given access to specific “views” based on corporate authority, functional responsibility, and decision span of control.

Working Prototype

The working prototype is an interactive dashboard mock-up with functioning user interface, navigation, and up to three user views. A prototype may be populated with sample data, but the basic interactivity, graphic displays, data filters, and queries are an important prerequisite for dimensionally modeling the data feeds.