Final Project Overview

For your final project, you will take a dataset, explore it, and tell an insightful story using at least three different visualizations (static or interactive). This is an opportunity to showcase your data visualization skills — you’ll hopefully want to share this project in your portfolio or during job interviews.

Format Options

You will choose one of the following three formats for your final project:

NoteOption 1: Same Question, Different Audiences

Create three static visualizations that answer the same research question, each designed for a different audience (e.g., general public, policy makers, technical experts). Your goal is to demonstrate how design choices change based on who you are communicating with.

NoteOption 2: Same Data, Different Questions

Use the same dataset to answer three different but related questions, each with its own focused visualization. Your goal is to show the range of stories that can be told from a single data source.

NoteOption 3: Interactive Dashboard

Build an interactive dashboard using shiny, plotly, or similar tools that includes at least three visual components for exploring your data dynamically. Your goal is to give users the ability to explore the data themselves.

Teams

You will work in teams of 2. Please start thinking about what topics you are interested in pursuing for the final project and come to class ready to pitch your idea in lab 4. Teams are formed based on shared interests and can be adjusted during lab 4.

All team members are expected to:

  • Contribute to at least one visualization
  • Present during the final class session on June 25
  • Complete the peer evaluation

Deliverables & Milestones

The final project is broken into milestones to make the work more manageable:

Milestone Description Due Date Weight
Brainstorm project ideas Individually brainstorm your project idea, format preference, research questions, and data sources Jun 11 Part of participation
Lab 4: Project Plan Form your team, establish team policies, develop a project plan, and sketch your visualizations Jun 15 3.75%
Final Report Submit your final analysis as a rendered Quarto document with at least three visualizations Jun 25 20%
Presentation Present your project to the class Jun 25 13%
Peer evaluation Complete a peer evaluation Jun 25 7%

The final project (report + presentation + peer evaluation) is worth 40% of your final grade.

Final Project Template

Your final report should be written using the project template. The template includes the required sections and formatting guidelines.

You will submit your project as:

  1. A rendered HTML file hosted on GitHub Pages
  2. A GitHub repository containing your .qmd source file and data

Tips for Success

  • Start early: begin collecting and cleaning your data in Week 4 so you have time to iterate on your visualizations.
  • Sketch first: use pencil and paper to plan your charts before writing code. Lab 4 will walk you through this.
  • Tell a story: your visualizations should connect to each other and lead the reader to a clear insight.
  • Apply course principles: every design choice should be motivated by the visualization principles you’ve learned.

Examples

Looking for inspiration? Check out the Project Showcase to see examples from past students.