A system for displaying a tree map visualization including a processor, a memory device, and program code resident in the memory device. The program code is executable by the processor to prioritize data in a data set so as to associate a priority with respective elements of the data in the data set, to predefine a pattern that reflects a desired display pattern for the associated priority of the elements of the data in the data set, to generate the tree map visualization that positions within a display space, and to display the tree map visualization on a display device.