A bespoke iPad app visualising economic data across 2,500 global cities. Users can zoom in to any city on the globe, open a graphic representation of the data and compare it to any other city, region or country.

McKinsey Urban World

Project Overview

The project transforms a vast dataset of over 100,000 data points into an engaging platform that illustrates the economic growth of cities – tracking their past, present, and future trajectories.

Turning Complex Data into an Accessible Experience

The McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) conducted a five-year study, gathering detailed information on GDP, population, and household income from over 2,600 cities worldwide. The challenge was to take this extensive research and present it in a way that anyone could easily explore on both tablets and mobile devices. The project began with defining key features and mapping out user flows. A wireframe prototype was created early on, used to refine the user experience —ensuring smooth navigation from a spinning globe view to detailed searches, comparisons, and the ability to save favorite cities.

Design & Visual Approach

Building on the wireframes, the design took cues from NASA’s satellite photography. Deep blue tones and clusters of light formed the backdrop, while the data was highlighted using a bright and contrasting color palette. This approach ensured the interface was not only visually appealing but also easy to interact with and understand.

Awards

• Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards 2013- Winner
• Lovie Awards 2013 – Education – Silver
• Lovie Awards 2013 – People’s Choice – Gold

Credits:

Agency: Sennep
Product owner: Stuart Jackson
Creative director: Matt Rice
Ux & Ui designer: Gra Monteleone
Technical director: Christoph Lorenzi
App developer: Alistair Mills