The Benefits of Data Visualization
To remain competitive, companies of any industry must understand the importance of creating innovative user-centered experiences. One tool available when participating in the experience design process is the creative use of data visualization.
Telling a story with data can be useful during the design process. But it has to be done the right way, using data visualization to find the right insights. The best stories have hooks at the start to draw people in, and the same goes for data visualization. Recognize that the visualization, while important, is a means to an end, a way to convey the message.
When thinking about how to design an innovative experience, treat it like any other project. Begin by sketching out ideas using data. Create a prototype. Solicit feedback to see if you are going in the right direction. According to the Harvard Business Review, these preliminary visualizations can lead to insight and progress:
Data scientists can use sketches or prototypes to get user feedback, just the way product designers do. although there’s a fog of ambiguity that descends during the exploratory data analysis phase, using the designer’s trick of making data visual helps your brain see patterns that suggest a few ways forward.