GOOD WORK
IRIS: GHSU's online data and information system
When I started in Institutional Research in 1997, my number one responsibility was to get MCG's (now GHSU's) main facts out on the web as soon as they became available. We developed IRIS to not just be a PDF of tables, but HTML data displays, excel spreadsheets for download, and trending charts on several key indicators. I can't take all the credit, though, I lead a pretty incredible team that puts this site together, which is always evolving with new technology and new ways to see data and inform our constituents. How can we tell GHSU's story through data? That is the perennial question.
Factsheets, Briefs, One-Pagers...
Whatever you call them, they are a big part of my experience over the years. I have created information briefs that usually answer a question or tell a story about the good work of Georgia Health Sciences University. These fact sheets act more like infographics in the way they incorporate different data visualizations, usually a map of Georgia showing a distribution of people or services, and other general data points to envision an issue through the data surrounding it.
Former MCG President's website redesign
I designed a prototype for a new web presence for the president of MCG that turned out pretty great, then he got another job and left before I could implement the site. That's how the cookie crumbles sometimes but I am still proud of what I put together and used it for one of my classes in grad school so it wasn't all for naught.
Scope: Pocket Guide to MCG
For several years I was responsible for the now defunct Scope, a mini fact book that contained basic statistics on MCG's populations and academic programs. This 40-page publication was filled with tables and graphs displaying the key data and information that summarized enrollment, faculty and staff data, and financial information. Great idea, not sure why we don't worry about it anymore, might be worth another look.
Dashboards
A dashboard is defined by Stephen Few, author of Information Dashboard Design, as "a visual display of the most important information needed to achieve one or more objectives; consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be monitored at a glance." I started seriously working in dashboard design and business intelligence in 2005 when our president at MCG declared that he wanted "the data I want at the moment I want to see it." It is amazing that in just a few short years, I have learned so much about something I never even knew existed. Providing the most important information to our leaders has proven challenging, but has taught me so much about how to pinpoint the key indicators that drive an organization.
Design for local businesses
And now for the lighter fare, I have helped many friends and acquaintances who are opening businesses and need a website, logo, menu, wine list and other various communications pieces. I have also designed graphics for t-shirts, cd covers, posters, flyers and similar marketing tools for promotional purposes. Basically whatever they need, I figure out how to make it happen. Some of the folks I have helped include The Bee's Knees, Open Door Preschool, La Dolce Vita Salon and Spa, The Soul Bar, Sky City, Blue Sky Kitchen, Nacho Mama's, Sacred Space Yoga Studio, Stillwater Tap Room and Pastel Art Cafe.
