Mortgage Rate Variability Index
Context is the product
DATA VISUALIZATION
SYSTEM DESIGN
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL
CONTENT STRATEGY
PROPRIETARY DATA
Overview
Rate tables tell you what a rate is. They don't tell you what it means. In a high-volatility mortgage environment, that gap costs homebuyers confidence — and costs Bankrate differentiation.
The Mortgage Rate Variability Index is a proprietary weekly score built on four weighted Bankrate data variables, benchmarked against historical trends to communicate the complexity of the current rate environment on a 0–10 scale. The goal was to contextualize rates for consumers, surface Bankrate's proprietary data as a product, and build authority that competitors like Freddie Mac couldn't replicate.
Solution
My role was to translate the algorithm into a visual system. I designed three data visualization components: an odometer, a spiderweb chart, and a line graph. Each sourced from Highcharts and adapted to Bankrate's brand standards. The odometer gives users an immediate read on weekly volatility. The spiderweb breaks that score into its four contributing variables so users can see why the market is calm or complex. The line graph tracks movement over time, turning a weekly snapshot into a trend.
The odometer and spiderweb were net-new data visualization patterns for Bankrate. I introduced both. Component architecture was structured for rapid engineering handoff, minimizing build complexity while maintaining visual precision. The index lives on the main mortgage rate table and a dedicated methodology page.
Within 24 hours of launch, the MRVI was cited in Google AI Mode and AI Overviews. 20% of all main rate table sessions surface the index. 15K views in its first week. 415 sessions to the methodology page since launch.
ROLE
ASSOCIATE PRODUCT DESIGNER
COMPANY
BANKRATE
TOOL
FIGMA
HIGH CHARTS