Role of user-centric design in data analytics

Role of user-centric design in data analytics

Authored by Carolina Perez-Dilsizian, Senior Designer at Notitia. Read more about Carolina here!

From an analytics perspective, data validation and quality are the most critical elements. Without accurate data, no analysis or reporting would hold true value.

But even with high-quality data, the way it’s presented makes all the difference in extracting easily understood insights and ensuring that decision-makers have what they need quickly.

It's common for clients to come to us with a clear idea of the data they want to see and how they’d like it displayed when building a dashboard. In this process, however, the design element is sometimes overlooked

What’s the connection between Data Analytics and Information Design?

Does design even matter when we’re talking about data?

Design can make a substantial difference in how we use, share, and report through our dashboards.

Effective design not only captures attention but also guides the eye to the most essential information. In data analytics, where vast amounts of data are often presented at once, a well-thought-out design can transform complexity into clarity, making dashboards intuitive and accessible for everyone.

Knowing the information you want to view is, of course, the first step, but how you display it can be a game changer.

Data solutions and design

When providing solutions through data, design plays a crucial role. Displaying information effectively, organising it systematically, choosing the right icons, and selecting the appropriate colours can make data easier to read and understand, leading to quicker and better-informed decision-making.

Consider how even a small change, like choosing colours that are easy to distinguish, can reduce cognitive load and help users spot trends and anomalies immediately.

A clear visual language in dashboards enables users to interpret complex data accurately, no matter their level of technical expertise.

Why bring design early into the dashboard process?

For some analytics enthusiasts, the idea of a design session for building a dashboard might seem unusual—after all, why not just have a data analyst build it directly?

However, our experience has shown that involving design early in the process encourages clients to ask the right questions and often reveals areas for improvement in their initial approach.

In these sessions, clients begin to see their data as not just numbers but as a story that can be told in multiple ways, each leading to different insights and actions.

Using design, we help clients to unlock the full potential of their data by presenting it in ways that inspire both understanding and action.

Our approach to the design process

Through a collaborative workshop, we can guide them through the design process.

Approving the dashboard design before building it also brings additional benefits, such as data fact-checking and minimising changes during the development phase.

This approach not only saves time and resources but also ensures that the final dashboard aligns with client goals and expectations from the very start.

We’ve implemented this process with several clients and have seen very positive results.

Clients who engage in the design process find that their dashboards become more than tools—they become invaluable assets that provide ongoing insights, reinforce business objectives, and support confident decision-making across their teams.

Get in touch with Notitia's design team to find out more.