Map The Count
Reaching hard-to-count populations for 2020 Illinois census
Project overview
Quick Facts
Project Focus
Data Reporting Platform
Total Surveys Submitted
41K+
Key Services
UI/UX, Platform Development, Strategy
The challenge
A short timeframe (under two months) was given to design and build a robust, user-friendly platform that could track and report census outreach efforts across hundreds of organizations to reach historically undercounted populations.
The solution
We collaborated closely with UIC’s Urban Data Visualization Lab to rapidly design and build a React-based reporting platform and companion public website. The solution included multiple user journeys, detailed data validation/changelogs, and real-time map integration.
The results
The project was developed and rolled out in months instead of years, and Illinois consistently remained among the top 10 states ranked by response rates, with the platform facilitating 41,401 total surveys submitted.
1
Project background
Purpose
Calculating Effectiveness of Census Efforts
Map The Count was an initiative between Urban Data Visualization Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago and the Illinois Department Human Services to encourage responses to the 2020 census. Hard-to-count areas historically had a response rate of 73% or less. To change that trajectory, multiple measures were needed: more educational resources, tools to assess past outreach, and a way for census workers to submit and track their responses. UDVL approached us to design and build a reporting platform and companion website to calculate the effectiveness of the census efforts.
2
Understanding the needs and making a plan
The Challenges
Identifying the Needs
With the short timeframe and details still forming, we collaborated closely with the involved parties, particularly the University of Illinois' Urban Data Visualization lab. As the project was a moving target, we had weekly meetings and our visual team designed mockups of the platform's critical views that were used in a presentation to the deputy governor of Illinois and other public figures.
Starting the Concept
Roadmap to the Future
The reception to the presentation was overwhelmingly positive. The visual team took the conceptual mockups and began to refine them into the final product, focusing on the most critical user journeys. With the quick turnaround, our design and development team needed to work simultaneously in finding areas of improvement, running quality assurance, and testing with the beta group.
Organizations involved
3
Designing a platform for better results
Platform Design
For User Goals
The goal of the platform was to create an intuitive and quick way to input and track data from census outreach efforts. There were three different user journeys to focus on:
Boots on the ground users that are carrying out the outreach efforts and need to submit their data.- Regional intermediaries and subcontractors that oversee data collection.
- Project leads and organization heads that need additional oversight, reporting, and moderation tools.
Dashboard
Keep up with Updates
A dashboard experience acts as one singular place for the most critical information. Since end users are not typically tech savvy, we focused on simplicity. Based on the user group, the dashboard was user-centric for those who submit reports and organization-centric for supervisors. It included a goal system to track objectives, tips/alerts, and graphs to easily show data visualization of outreach activity.
- 1.Based on the usergroup, the dashboard would be user-centric for those that submit the reports and organization-centric for supervisors that needed to get a bigger picture of the whole organization.
- 2.A goal system to track objectives, deadlines, and progress.
- 3.Tips, alerts, and resource links at key points of interaction.
- 4.Graphs to easily show data visualization of outreach activity and efforts.
4
Building a data collection and reporting platform
Laying the Groundwork
The Tech-Stack
With under two months to execute the platform build, we leveraged our in-house React library to quickly set up the structure. Since the data would be used by the State for high-level accountability, a robust paper trail was needed. We built multiple changelogs to capture everything and a moderation step for admins to approve activity trackers. We needed to find the correct balance between organization autonomy and having a highly reliable dataset for all to use.
Map Integration
For Accurate Tracking
A data-focused priority was ensuring the interactive maps provided by UIC Urban Data Visualization Lab were updated in real-time and in sync with the public-facing website. Since the maps would be reviewed by elected officials and stakeholders, it was crucial that the platform could handle the data-rich maps accurately and efficiently.
5
Accessible and informant website for the public
Resources
Delivered to the Public
A goal of the initiative was to provide more educational resources to the public via a companion public-facing website. The website focused on the initiative's purpose, the importance of the census, and resources to increase awareness. We embedded pre-configured, data-rich maps that are in-sync with the platform, showcasing the most relevant data to website visitors.
Accessibility
For Best Practices
A close second priority to the messaging was accessibility. This included not just utilizing color and typography styles to ensure readability, but also writing the markup for visitors using screen readers or other alternative browsing devices. Accessibility was rigorously tested using auditing tools and manual methods like keyboard-only navigation.
Browser Support
Plan for All Use Cases
Another aspect of developing the site was to ensure it functioned well on older browsers. This meant utilizing older, well-supported web development standards first, then adding modern layout techniques that would only show up on modern browsers, as long as the experience remained consistent between the two.
Quick look at what we did
6
Statistics to show progress
The Numbers
From Launch
Once the platform was live, it was time for the involved parties to onboard their organizations and users. The end product focused solely on simplifying the complex and streamlining processes to save any valuable time it could and because of that, it was very exciting for our team to see the work having real community impact. For our involvement in the project, Audentio was recognized by the state of Illinois with a Certificate of Appreciation. We are immensely proud of the project and our team’s hyper-focus with the quick turnaround time. We couldn’t have done it without the close collaboration of UDVL and all the organizations apart of the initiative.
community leaders brought together
organizations involved
total surveys submitted
Project Background
A word from the client
"Mike and his team in Audentio were extremely fast and easy to work with. Our organizations partnered well and we all delivered on our very tight deadlines. This was a tough project for many reasons, but working together was a lot easier and we reached our goal in the end. I look forward to partnering with Audentio again!"
Assistant Professor, UIUC