Social Visualization Patterns

Users need a way of shifting and reformatting a data visualization so that they can make sense of the whole data set by understanding how it responds to dynamic changes

Use when

• One or more of the visualization parameters is variable (eg profit margin, unit cost)
• One or more of the visualization parameters is ordered (eg time, scale, amount, location)

Solution

Instead of making the visualization a snapshot, make it an interface that lets a user playfully explore the data.

• Create ways for users to change how a dataset is represented in a visualization allowing the impact of any changes they make to be immediately reflected.
• With ordered data, allow users to sort the data. eg: by labels, values and data order.
• Give users the ability to reconfigure a visualization schema. eg: swap the X and Y axis on a two dimensional graph.
• Pay attention to usability when designing visualization interfaces, eg: clearly communicate which parameter is selected, and what visualization elements it affects.

Why

Being able to tweak a parameter value and see how it affects a visualization helps communicate the relationship that parameter has to the whole visual analysis. This can help people see trends and make sense of complex datasets more quickly than with static visualizations.

How

Build controls into the interface that enable users to perform actions such as resorting the data, excluding certain parts of the data, or changing a variable that reflects the outcome of the data. This can be done through the use of drop down menus, radio buttons, check boxes and sliders.

Related patterns

• Dynamic queries
• Direct manipulation