Cycle 2024.3: Multidimensional data pages

[marcelgerber]

Figma

Goal

We want to make navigation between multiple, tightly related dimensions¹ of a dataset easier, in an explorer-like - but reimagined - UI.
We want to also try to enable multi-selection of different dimensions for the first time.

Tasks

Must do

• Come up with a data format that is suitable for this goal
  • See Notion
• Decide design: Either dropdown-like or slideover-like (or: prototype both)
• Implement this design
• Plan a call with D&R team and get their thoughts on the prototype
• Scope out the plan for the next cycle

Should do

• Explore multi-selection
• Interconnecting several multiDs (for example, if they share the same dimensions)
• Keep thumbnail generation in mind

Could do

• Figure out metadata-per-view situation (jumpiness, overrides etc.)

Won't do

• Baking - baking is not a primary concern for this cycle
• Authoring - editing a config in the the admin can be pretty bare-bones for this cycle

Open questions

• How should a multiD behave when embedded?
  • One option: Like explorers - controls can be shown or hidden

Rough design

Risks

Multi-selection is a difficult beast to tame, for several reasons:

• Multi-selection is probably only possible within one dimensions; needs good UI/UX when the user tries to do something else
• Possibly, multi-selection doesn't always make sense for every dimension
• The technicalities of how grapher would load these are a bit unclear, still
• Line charts are relatively straightforward, but other chart types (map, stacked charts, etc.)
  • Possible solution: Only enable for line charts for now
• (Joe edit) Multiselect may involve the selection of data with different metadata (source, title, "What you should know" etc.), and we don't have a good idea for how we will show that on datapages yet.

Footnotes

1. For example: All deaths / death rate; All ages / Under 5 years. ↩