Assignment 3: Interactive Visualization
For this assignment, you will explore the issues involved in implementing interactive visualizations. You will build a visualization that enables interactive exploration of a dataset of your own choosing and deploy it on the web.
One goal of this assignment is to gain familiarity implementing interaction techniques for visualizations. For example, the zipdecode and NameVoyager applications shown in class apply the interactive technique of dynamic queries – as explored in the earlier HomeFinder application – to the problem of uncovering patterns in zip codes and baby names. Similarly, treemaps were originally developed to display hierarchical file structure, and were later adapted to the problem of interactively depicting a map of the stock market. We have seen many other examples of interactive visualization techniques in class and in the readings. The goal with this assignment is not only for you to gain hands-on implementation experience, but also for you to think about the effectiveness of the specific techniques for your chosen data domain.
One challenge is to scope the assignment so that you can finish it within two weeks. Focus on designing a limited yet compelling visualization that enables interactive exploration along a few critical dimensions. The NameVoyager application is a nice example that uses a simple but elegant interaction design to enable engaging explorations. A tightly-focused, well-implemented interactive graphic is much preferred to a sprawling design that attempts too much!
Team Registration
For this assignment you should work in teams of 3-4 students. You should find project partners that you will continue to work with for the final project.
As soon as you have formed a team and chosen a dataset, submit the team registration form. Your form must include the names, UW email addresses, and GitHub usernames of each team member, along with a concise title for your interactive visualization. If you are looking for project partners, please post to Ed to find classmates with similar interests! You should submit your team registration by Wed 1/31, 11:59pm.
You will submit your interactive prototype as a webpage hosted on the CSE GitLab. After the proposal deadline, we will assign your team a repository in the CSE 442 GitLab Organization. Choose your repository name wisely!
Deliverables
Design an interactive graphic aimed at enabling understanding of a compelling question for a dataset of your own choosing. In order to determine what subset of the data and which interactive options are most promising, you may want to perform additional exploratory analysis. What aspects of the data reveal the most interesting discoveries or stories? Do not feel obligated to try to convey everything about the data: focus on a compelling subset.
Your graphic must include interactions that enable exploration. Possible techniques include panning, zooming, brushing, details-on-demand (e.g., tooltips), dynamic query filters, and selecting different measures to display. You are free to also consider highlights, annotations, or other narrative features intended to draw attention to particular items of interest and provide additional context.
Implement your interactive graphic and deploy it to the web. We expect most students will use D3.js or Vega-Lite for this assignment; however, you are free to use other web-based libraries. Your graphic should not require customized server-side support; you should simply load data from a static data file or public web API.
You will use GitLab pages to host your visualization from your project repository. We recommend keeping everything (development files and website) in your master branch: either serve your website from the root folder or from the "/docs" folder. Your repo must also contain the (unobfuscated) source code for your visualization.
If you like, you may develop your visualization as an Observable notebook. However, you must then either (a) port your design to a standard web page or (b) embed your Observable notebook as part of your GitLab-hosted page.
Your deployed webpage should also include a write-up with the following components:
- A rationale for your design decisions. How did you choose your particular visual encodings and interaction techniques? What alternatives did you consider and how did you arrive at your ultimate choices?
- An overview of your development process. Describe how the work was split among the team members. Include a commentary on the development process, including answers to the following questions: Roughly how much time did you spend developing your application (in people-hours)? What aspects took the most time?
Grading Criteria
Projects that squarely meet the requirements for the assignment will receive a score of 18/20 (A). Going beyond the call of duty can net additional points, for example:
- advanced interaction techniques
- novel visualization elements
- effective multi-view coordination
- thoughtful and elegant graphic design
- insightful & engaging exploration experience
Point deductions will be made when projects suffer from:
- errors or broken features
- clearly ineffective visual encodings
- confusing interface design or unhelpful interactions
- lack of exploratory interaction techniques
- incomplete or insufficient write-up
Submission Details
Submit your team registration form by Wed 1/31, 11:59pm.
You must have a working prototype online by Mon 2/12, 11:59pm. Your prototype should be accessible on GitLab pages using a URL of the form:
https://cse442.pages.cs.washington.edu/24wi/a3/YOUR-A3-PROJECT-NAME/
In addition, you must submit the URL for your prototype on Gradescope.
Submissions will be reviewed as part of a subsequent peer review assignment (due Wed 2/21), so try to avoid a late submission; assignments submitted late may not be included as part of the peer review and thus not receive peer feedback.