CASE STUDY

Time-Traveling Descriptive Analytics Dashboard

A rapid design exercise exploring natural-language descriptive analytics on a global map, from pencil sketch to interactive prototype.

The Problem

How do you let someone ask questions about future or past data in plain language and get a clear visual answer on a map/dashboard?

Process

Pencil sketch + reference images
Prompt engineering into Figma Make
Iteration on the globe / time / query behavior

What I learned

Starting from a rough pencil sketch and reference images produced a much stronger first prototype than starting from a blank prompt. The visual constraints gave Figma Make better direction.

Prompt → Interface

Showed how a single well-structured prompt plus visual references can produce a usable interactive dashboard in one pass.

Map + Time

Treating location and time as equal primary controls made future/past queries feel concrete instead of abstract.

Tone as a Design Tool

A light fictional scenario made rapid exploration easier and still surfaced real interaction problems.

Input as Interface

The natural-language field became the main way to drive the dashboard, reducing the need for traditional filters and menus.

Project Overview

Role

Sole designer – concept through interactive prototype

Scope

End-to-end design exercise: pencil sketch, prompt engineering, Figma Make prototype, and interaction refinement for a natural-language descriptive analytics dashboard

Team

Independent exploration

Timeline

Rapid exercise (single focused session + iteration)