Dashboard
This project's task involved designing and prototyping a dashboard to showcase data from a week in my life, with a timeline of five weeks for completion. The final output is a well-structured dashboard that effectively presents the data from my week.
My journey began with a clear project brief: create a data visualisation dashboard that portrays a week in my life. To kickstart the project, I decided to build a mood board, which served as a wellspring of inspiration. I gathered a selection of dashboards that shared several key elements. These dashboards consistently employed a harmonious colour palette, a strong emphasis on data visualisation techniques, and a clear hierarchy for information presentation. Typography, readability, and a unified design style were also notable aspects that I drew inspiration from.
Research
The next step was to gather data for my dashboard. Over the course of a week, I meticulously recorded data related to my daily life, including steps, sleep patterns, heart rate, screen time, music listening duration, travel information, and spending habits. This data was sourced from various platforms and applications, including the health app, screen time settings, in-car blackbox data, and my banking app. I combined data from these diverse sources to provide a comprehensive overview of my daily activities.
Recording Data
Armed with my data, I began to sketch out ideas to explore potential dashboard layouts and chart designs. These initial sketches offered a visual concept of how the dashboard might look. Following this, I transitioned to using Figma, a web-based design and prototyping tool, to convert these sketches into wireframes.
Process
I carefully selected a colour palette dashboard, opting for a harmonious combination of blue and green tones to evoke a sense of calm and organisation. These colours work well for presenting data and information in a clear and visually appealing manner. In addition, I incorporated a vibrant pop of orange into the palette to create visual contrast and draw attention to key elements within the interface. This thoughtfully chosen colour scheme aimed to balance professionalism with a touch of dynamism to create an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly data visualisation dashboard.
UI and Brand Application
As I incorporated these colours and components into my wireframes, it was essential to maintain a balance that allowed the information to shine while preserving an aesthetically pleasing layout. This process required meticulous attention to detail and a keen eye for visual hierarchy to ensure that the final screens would effectively communicate the desired information and provide a delightful user experience.
Reflection
In conclusion, this case study has showcased the systematic process of designing a data visualisation dashboard that reflects a week in my life. Drawing inspiration from professional dashboards, recording data from various sources, and utilising different chart types, I effectively transformed raw data into an informative and visually engaging representation of my daily activities. This journey has not only provided me with valuable insights into creating personal data dashboards but also enhanced my skill in data-driven storytelling and personal analytics.
Want to read more?
Check out my Notion blog for a full breakdown of this project