If you use project management tools like TargetProcess, you'll know that sometimes it's hard to get an instant feel for "where you're at" without studying the burn-down chart or summary reports.

We want a dashboard indicator to give us this information fast. Here's one idea we put on the table:

I like it because it's shiny. And because it shows 4 metrics in one bar.

But, I can hear Ed Tufte cursing in my ear :) For example, this is probably a clearer way of depicting the information with a much higher data/ink ratio:

Budgeted:    250h (200h of which is planned against tasks)
Spent:       230h   
Unexpected:  +50h  (time we will need but haven't planned for)

Do you have recommendations for your favourite way of seeing project status?