Economic data usually captures what happens in offices, factories, and markets. But some of the most vital labor—caring for children, aging parents, sick family members—remains hidden from view.
The Care Board is changing that. Led by Professor Misty L. Heggeness at the University of Kansas, the project quantifies the economic role of care work—paid and unpaid. The data is then made public through an interactive and responsive dashboard.
Darkhorse Analytics partnered with the KU team to design and build that dashboard.
What was built:
A data-driven introduction
The landing page introduces the concept of the care economy with scroll-based storytelling. It begins with a powerful visual: how care and our capacity to care for ourselves and others change over our lifetime. From infancy to old age, the balance shifts—now, it’s visible.
Custom visual flows
A “care chord” illustrates how time flows from caregivers into different forms of care. It shows differences by gender, parenthood, and care type in an intuitive, interactive format.
Insight into care roles
A custom Voronoi chart breaks down formal and informal care provision. Users can explore who provides care, how many hours it takes, and what those roles are worth in economic terms.
Deeper exploration
Beyond storytelling, the site includes dashboard-style pages that allow for in-depth analysis. Filters enable users to explore gender, parenthood, formality of care, and more.
Equity and distribution
The Care Board introduces new metrics—including the care ratio and Gini coefficient of formal care—to examine how evenly care work is distributed. These tools reveal gaps in supply and need.
Open and accessible
Supporting pages include a full methodology, glossary, and data repository to promote transparency and reuse.
Care work is essential. Thanks to the team at KU and the work of Darkhorse Analytics, the scale and structure of this invisible economy are now easier to see, understand, and act on.
