2024 MSN Weather Data Visualization
2024 · Visual
Introduction
The design and data visualization for the weather homepage and weather details have undergone several updates and iterations to enhance user experience and provide more insightful weather information.
Team member
Matt Croey
My role
Visual design
01. Why
In previous design, the weather data and information that users cared about were not clearly highlighted. More importantly, the design lacked interpretation of this data. Through user research, we discovered that many users didn’t actually understand what the numbers meant—for example, an AQI of 200—and didn’t know how to use that information to plan their day or travel accordingly.
In the product, this sort of data was also scattered across different sections, making it hard for users to notice or focus on. We saw a clear need for a more intuitive and engaging way to help users make sense of this information.
So my approach was to highlight the most important data right at the top of the screen. For example, if the air quality is poor today, the AQI and wind should be prioritized and clearly shown first. Most users only glance at weather information briefly, so we don’t need to draw attention to every single detail. Instead, we treat weather data as low in the overall information hierarchy, and focus on surfacing what truly matters at the right time.
02. Exploration
I explored several ideas around data visualization. Although most of these concepts didn’t make it into the final product, I still believe they hold value.
One of the first ideas was inspired by a telescope—a special gift from my father and one of my favorite childhood toys. It was through that telescope that I first began to explore the vastness of the night sky and the universe. I started to wonder: what if we looked at the world through a telescope-like lens? Whether zooming in or out, we could observe the changes in nature and weather in a more intuitive and poetic way. 
