1. At a computer system including at least one processor and a memory, in a computer networking environment including a plurality of computing systems, a computer-implemented method for presenting multiple data items having corresponding attributes related to stages of progression and in a manner that reflects the current progression associated with each of the multiple data items simultaneously, the method comprising: an act of accessing a plurality of data items, each data item being associated with a corresponding data item feature and at least one data item attribute, the at least one data item attribute comprising a current stage of progression associated with the corresponding data item feature; an act of arranging the accessed data items visually as visual nodes in a customizable layout pattern that is controlled by selected features and associated attributes of each data item, wherein the pattern includes a plurality of slices that designate corresponding different data item features and a plurality of rings that designate corresponding different data item attributes, each of the corresponding different data item attributes comprising a different stage of progression with interior rings representing a greater degree of progression than outer rings in the plurality of rings; and an act of visually presenting markers associated with corresponding arranged data items on a displayed circular base that includes the plurality of slices and rings, such that each data item is visually represented in an appropriate slice and ring, according to the current stage of progression associated with each data item's corresponding data item feature, such that a marker associated with a particular data item will be displayed only within the appropriate slice and ring corresponding to the current stage of progression associated with that particular data item's feature, wherein at least one marker is represented in the presentation with a graphical object representing a pin that is visually inserted into the circular base, and wherein at least one of a position of the pin and a depth of insertion of the pin further indicates the current stage of progression.