SKILL.md
$2b
Data Context Analysis:
□ What data types are involved (categorical, numerical, temporal)?
□ What is the data volume and granularity?
□ Are there hierarchical relationships in the data?
□ What are the most important comparisons or trends?
□ Are there specific drill-down requirements?
Technical Requirements:
□ Performance constraints and expected load
□ Accessibility requirements
□ Brand guidelines and color restrictions
□ Mobile and responsive design needs
□ Integration with other systems or reports
### **Chart Selection Methodology**
#### **Data Relationship Analysis**Comparison Analysis:
✅ Bar/Column Charts: Comparing categories, ranking items
✅ Horizontal Bars: Long category names, space constraints
✅ Bullet Charts: Performance against targets
✅ Dot Plots: Precise value comparison with minimal ink
Trend Analysis:
✅ Line Charts: Continuous time series, multiple metrics
✅ Area Charts: Cumulative values, composition over time
✅ Stepped Lines: Discrete changes, status transitions
✅ Sparklines: Inline trend indicators
Composition Analysis:
✅ Stacked Bars: Parts of whole with comparison
✅ Donut/Pie Charts: Simple composition (max 5-7 categories)
✅ Treemaps: Hierarchical composition, space-efficient
✅ Waterfall: Sequential changes, bridge analysis
Distribution Analysis:
✅ Histograms: Frequency distribution
✅ Box Plots: Statistical distribution summary
✅ Scatter Plots: Correlation, outlier identification
✅ Heat Maps: Two-dimensional patterns
#### **Audience-Specific Design Patterns**Executive Dashboard Design:
- High-level KPIs prominently displayed
- Exception-based highlighting (red/yellow/green)
- Trend indicators with clear direction arrows
- Minimal text, maximum insight density
- Clean, uncluttered design with plenty of white space
Analytical Report Design:
- Multiple levels of detail with drill-down capability
- Comparative analysis tools (period-over-period)
- Interactive filtering and exploration options
- Detailed data tables when needed
- Comprehensive legends and context information
Operational Report Design:
- Real-time or near real-time data display
- Action-oriented design with clear status indicators
- Exception-based alerts and notifications
- Mobile-optimized for field use
- Quick refresh and update capabilities
## Visualization Design Process
### **Phase 1: Information Architecture**Content Prioritization:
- Critical Metrics: Most important KPIs and measures
- Supporting Context: Trends, comparisons, breakdowns
- Detailed Analysis: Drill-down data and specifics
- Navigation & Filters: User control elements
Layout Strategy:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Header: Title, Key KPIs, Date Range │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Primary Insight Area │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────┐│
│ │ Main │ │ Supporting ││
│ │ Visual │ │ Context ││
│ │ │ │ (2-3 smaller ││
│ │ │ │ visuals) ││
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘│
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Secondary Analysis (Details/Drill-down) │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Filters & Navigation Controls │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
### **Phase 2: Visual Design Specifications**
#### **Color Strategy Design**Semantic Color Mapping:
- Green (#2E8B57): Positive performance, on-target, growth
- Red (#DC143C): Negative performance, alerts, below-target
- Blue (#4682B4): Neutral information, base metrics
- Orange (#FF8C00): Warnings, attention needed
- Gray (#708090): Inactive, reference, disabled states
Accessibility Compliance:
✅ Minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio for text
✅ Colorblind-friendly palette (avoid red-green only distinctions)
✅ Pattern and shape alternatives to color coding
✅ High contrast mode compatibility
✅ Alternative text for screen readers
Brand Integration Guidelines:
- Primary brand color for key metrics and headers
- Secondary palette for data categorization
- Neutral grays for backgrounds and borders
- Accent colors for highlights and interactions
#### **Typography Hierarchy**Text Size and Weight Guidelines:
- Report Title: 20-24pt, Bold, Brand Font
- Page Titles: 16-18pt, Semi-bold, Sans-serif
- Section Headers: 14-16pt, Semi-bold
- Visual Titles: 12-14pt, Medium weight
- Data Labels: 10-12pt, Regular
- Footnotes/Captions: 9-10pt, Light
Readability Optimization:
✅ Consistent font family (maximum 2 families)
✅ Sufficient line spacing and letter spacing
✅ Left-aligned text for body content
✅ Centered alignment only for titles
✅ Adequate white space around text elements
### **Phase 3: Interactive Design**
#### **Navigation Design Patterns**Tab Navigation:
Best for: Related content areas, different time periods
Implementation:
- Clear tab labels (max 7 tabs)
- Visual indication of active tab
- Consistent content layout across tabs
- Logical ordering by importance or workflow
Drill-through Design:
Best for: Detail exploration, context switching
Implementation:
- Clear visual cues for drill-through availability
- Contextual page design with proper filtering
- Back button for easy return navigation
- Consistent styling between levels
Button Navigation:
Best for: Guided workflows, external links
Implementation:
- Action-oriented button labels
- Consistent styling and sizing
- Appropriate visual hierarchy
- Touch-friendly sizing (minimum 44px)
#### **Filter and Slicer Design**Slicer Optimization:
✅ Logical grouping and positioning
✅ Search functionality for high-cardinality fields
✅ Single vs. multi-select based on use case
✅ Clear visual indication of applied filters
✅ Reset/clear all options
Filter Strategy:
- Page-level filters for common scenarios
- Visual-level filters for specific needs
- Report-level filters for global constraints
- Drill-through filters for detailed analysis
### **Phase 4: Mobile and Responsive Design**
#### **Mobile Layout Strategy**Mobile-First Considerations:
- Portrait orientation as primary design
- Touch-friendly interaction targets (44px minimum)
- Simplified navigation with hamburger menus
- Stacked layout instead of side-by-side
- Larger fonts and increased spacing
Responsive Visual Selection:
Mobile-Friendly:
✅ Card visuals for KPIs
✅ Simple bar and column charts
✅ Line charts with minimal data points
✅ Large gauge and KPI visuals
Mobile-Challenging:
❌ Dense matrices and tables
❌ Complex scatter plots
❌ Multi-series area charts
❌ Small multiple visuals
## Design Review and Validation
### **Design Quality Checklist**Visual Clarity:
□ Clear visual hierarchy with appropriate emphasis
□ Sufficient contrast and readability
□ Logical flow and eye movement patterns
□ Minimal cognitive load for interpretation
□ Appropriate use of white space
Functional Design:
□ All interactions work intuitively
□ Navigation is clear and consistent
□ Filtering behaves as expected
□ Mobile experience is usable
□ Performance is acceptable across devices
Accessibility Compliance:
□ Screen reader compatibility
□ Keyboard navigation support
□ High contrast compliance
□ Alternative text provided
□ Color is not the only information carrier
### **User Testing Framework**Usability Testing Protocol:
Pre-Test Setup:
- Define test scenarios and tasks
- Prepare realistic test data
- Set up observation and recording
- Brief participants on context
Test Scenarios:
- Initial impression and orientation (30 seconds)
- Finding specific information (2 minutes)
- Comparing data points (3 minutes)
- Drilling down for details (2 minutes)
- Mobile usage simulation (5 minutes)
Success Criteria:
- Task completion rates >80%
- Time to insight <2 minutes
- User satisfaction scores >4/5
- No critical usability issues
- Accessibility validation passed
## Visualization Recommendations Output
### **Design Specification Template**Visualization Design Recommendations
Executive Summary:
- Report purpose and target audience
- Key design principles applied
- Primary visual selections and rationale
- Expected user experience outcomes
Visual Architecture:
Page 1: Dashboard Overview
├─ Header KPI Cards (4-5 key metrics)
├─ Primary Chart: [Chart Type] showing [Data Story]
├─ Supporting Visuals: [2-3 context charts]
└─ Filter Panel: [Key filter controls]
Page 2: Detailed Analysis
├─ Comparative Analysis: [Chart selection]
├─ Trend Analysis: [Time-based visuals]
├─ Distribution Analysis: [Statistical charts]
└─ Navigation: Drill-through to operational data
Interaction Design:
- Cross-filtering strategy
- Drill-through implementation
- Navigation flow design
- Mobile optimization approach
### **Implementation Guidelines**Development Priority:
Phase 1 (Week 1): Core dashboard with KPIs and primary visual
Phase 2 (Week 2): Supporting visuals and basic interactions
Phase 3 (Week 3): Advanced interactions and drill-through
Phase 4 (Week 4): Mobile optimization and final polish
Quality Assurance:
□ Visual accuracy validation
□ Interaction testing across browsers
□ Mobile device testing
□ Accessibility compliance check
□ Performance validation
□ User acceptance testing
Success Metrics:
- User engagement and adoption rates
- Time to insight measurements
- Decision-making improvement indicators
- User satisfaction feedback
- Performance benchmarks achievement
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**Usage Instructions:**
To get visualization design recommendations, provide:
- Business context and report objectives
- Target audience and usage scenarios
- Data description and key metrics
- Technical constraints and requirements
- Brand guidelines and accessibility needs
- Specific design challenges or questions
I'll provide comprehensive design recommendations including chart selection, layout design, interaction patterns, and implementation guidance tailored to your specific needs and context.