Project overview
FoodSwitch is a global-health initiative from The George Institute for Global Health focused on transparency across the packaged-food supply.
The in-progress dashboard organizes complex product, nutrition, and sustainability data into an exploratory interface for researchers, public-health and policy professionals, food-industry stakeholders, organizations using FoodSwitch data, and interested consumers.
The challenge
Large food datasets are valuable but can be difficult to interpret when presented through spreadsheets, reports, or isolated statistics.
The dashboard must support audiences with different levels of data literacy while enabling comparisons, trend analysis, environmental and nutritional exploration, and detailed product investigation.
The solution
Organized the dashboard around progressive disclosure: an overview of key indicators, an exploration layer with charts and filters, and detailed product-level information.
Designed a shared filtering model and purposeful visualization hierarchy so users can move from a high-level summary to focused evidence without losing context.
My contribution
- Structured the dashboard information architecture around overview, exploration, and detail levels.
- Designed headline metric cards, filters, comparisons, trends, distributions, environmental indicators, nutrition views, and detailed tables.
- Selected visualization patterns according to the question each view needs to answer.
- Designed responsive behavior, accessible use of color, and clear loading, empty, and error states.
Key features
- High-level indicator summary
- Category, location, period, and attribute filters
- Food-group comparisons
- Trend and distribution charts
- Environmental-impact indicators
- Nutritional information
- Product-level data tables
- Loading, empty, and error states
Technical challenges
Balancing analytical depth with an approachable interface.
Used progressive disclosure to surface important indicators first while keeping filters, comparisons, and granular data available for deeper analysis.
Communicating meaning accessibly through visualization.
Matched charts to specific analytical questions and paired color with labels and values so interpretation never depends on color alone.
Preserving dashboard usability across screen sizes.
Prioritized and reorganized content for smaller screens rather than simply compressing the desktop layout.
Architecture
- Overview, exploration, and detail information layers
- Shared and visible filtering system
- Question-driven chart selection
- Responsive and accessible dashboard patterns
Outcome
The dashboard is still in progress. Its intended outcome is a clearer bridge between complex food-supply data and evidence-based research, policy, and product decisions; final impact has not yet been measured.