IREX came to openbox9 seeking a way to display their worldwide impact by displaying the leaders at work in their communities. What better way to show global positive change than on an interactive map?
Desiging an interactive map presents a few complex questions for our strategy:
How do we brand this?
How much map are we really talking?
We wanted to visualize how far the Community Solutions Program reaches. At the same time, we did not want to lose sight of the individual leaders, programs, communities, and stories. We concluded that we needed three main levels of data.
1. Worldwide: Breadth of Impact
Here we visualize the breadth of the program by showing how many beneficiaries there are and where they are located around the world. This quickly communicates that the Community Solutions Programs has projects all over the world.
2. Country: Kinds of Impact
Go a level deeper, and you can see the type of projects happening in any country. You can filter these at any time based on four main categories. These clarify what kinds of problems leaders are working to solve in a given country. Images of these leaders invite the user to learn more.
3. Project: Depth of Impact
By clicking on any pin, you get a unique story—something that can be more valuable than numbers alone—as well as the face behind the work. These stories and images are what really help the user draw meaningful connections between this program and it’s impact.
Each of these levels represents the data in ways that factor in the different types of information—numbers vs. stories. Together, these levels communicate the breath, variety, and depth of CSP’s impact.
What can we do within budget?
What are the hurdles?

How do we make this adjustable and future-friendly?
Creating Engaging Solutions and Means of Communication
By carefully considering the clients needs, the multiple levels of information, and budget limitations, openbox9 created an effective way to visualize the projects and beneficiaries of the Community Solutions Program. The map not only shows the expansive reach of the program, but it also provides an enjoyable way to learn the stories of each unique project.
Could an interactive map help communicate why the world needs your organization?