How UX design transforms data into actionable insights

Sometimes the first call from a client starts like this "We have all the data, but our dashboards are a mess." Not because the numbers are wrong But because no one can make sense of them That is when UI UX becomes the difference between confusion and clarity Over the years, I have learned this It is rarely about making things look nicer It is about how design changes the way people use data and make decisions. A client once asked me "Be honest, does UI UX really matter in dashboards?" My answer "Only if you care about good decisions" Most dashboard problems are not technical Yes you might have slow queries or logic errors But the real issue is that people cannot understand what the dashboard is saying. I once saw a dashboard with 19 colors in a single view. Green did not always mean good Red did not always mean bad The most important metric was hidden where no one ever looked We did not rebuild it from scratch We simplified the layout We gave colors consistent meaning We brought key metrics to the front That single change saved the team 4 to 6 hours every week It also stopped costly misreads that had been happening for months This is why so many of our projects focus on revamping existing dashboards and reports. Not replacing the tools But redesigning them so people can finally make the right decisions Your data is only as valuable as your ability to understand it Good design turns numbers into decisions. And confusion into clarity. I’ve attached an example dashboard so you can visualize what a clean, insightful, and decision-focused design can look like. What is the most confusing element in your current dashboard? #DashboardDesign #UIUX #Growth #DataVisualization #DesignThinking #data #dataanalystjobs #AI #strategy

Data, measures, and visuals only have meaning when a dashboard fulfills its true purpose: enabling the user to make a decision. And the way that’s achieved is through good UI/UX process. #data #analysis #strategy #designthinking

Creating an impactful storytelling dashboard goes beyond data presentation—it's about crafting a compelling narrative enriched by UX design. My latest article offers a comprehensive guide packed with 16 techniques to make your dashboards more engaging, insightful, and actionable. From understanding your audience to optimising for different devices, these tips are tailored to serve not just the story but also the user's needs. If you're keen to deepen your understanding of data visualisation and storytelling, this guide offers a multi-faceted approach, even aligning with business strategy and regulatory standards like Basel II. Don't just show data, tell a story! #DataStorytelling #UXDesign #DataVisualization #DashboardDesign #BusinessIntelligence #AudienceEngagement #DataInsights #BusinessStrategy #RegulatoryCompliance #BaselII #DataAnalysis #UserExperience #InteractiveDashboards #DataNarrative #UsabilityTesting #ResponsiveDesign https://lnkd.in/gvR5kwsA

Stop building dashboards that no one understands 📊 Too often, dashboards end up as pretty charts no one uses. The fix? Bring UX research into your Power BI workflow. 🔎 What you should do? 👂🏻 Talk to users first - which data they want to see? What decisions they have to make? ✏️ Sketch it out - wireframe or storyboard flows before opening Power BI. 🔢 Build the brains with DAX - create the right measures so visuals actually answer user questions. 🎯 Design for clarity - info hierarchy > fancy visuals. (5 second rule: Can they spot the key metric fast?) 🧪 Test early - even a quick hallway test uncovers blind spots or incorrect calculations. 🔄 Iterate - dashboards evolve as business needs change. 📚 Resources worth a look: Complete Guide to Dashboard UX Design: 6 Step Guide for UX Designers https://lnkd.in/dZdAPVux Why UI/UX Planning Is the Missing Link in Your Power BI Strategy by Nicholas Lea-Trengrouse https://lnkd.in/d8f6crZc Creating (actually) useful dashboards by Bence Mózer https://lnkd.in/dXGGY3pG https://lnkd.in/dZdAPVux 💡 Dashboards aren’t just data dumps, they’re decision-making tools. When BI developers, UX designers, and researchers work together; UX defines the why, DAX empowers the how, and design delivers the wow. 💬 When you start a new dashboard, do you kick off with user research or dive straight into DAX? Let me know in the comments 👇🏻 #PowerBI #UX #UXDesign #UXResearch #DataVisualization #DAX #DashboardDesign

From Data to Decisions: UX Best Practices for Real-Time Performance Dashboards 1️⃣ Put the user first. Know who your dashboard serves whether executives or data analysts and tailor the experience through ongoing surveys, interviews, and testing . 2️⃣ Highlight what matters. Use design cues (layout, font size, color) to emphasize the most impactful KPIs, and employ filters or drill-downs to keep the main view focused and uncluttered . 3️⃣ Speed is essential. Dashboards must load swiftly and stay up-to-date in real time. This means optimizing backend processes, caching effectively, and favoring lightweight visuals over heavy animations . 4️⃣ Make it intuitive. “A dashboard should feel easy to understand from the first click.” That’s a UX must-have clarity from the start earns user trust and improves decision-making . Together, these design principles help transform raw data into actionable insights, empowering businesses to act with confidence and precision. Read full article: https://lnkd.in/g8GsqmP5 #DesigningDecisions #DashboardUX #RealTimeDesign #DataToDecisions #UXForImpact #InsightByDesign #DataDrivenDesign

DataGrip UX Survey #2 shows 87.5% satisfaction, rising AI usage and team collaboration needs. Explore what this means for database IDEs, workflows and Galaxy.

Most dashboards do not fail because of bad data. They fail because of bad design. Too often, data viz is treated as a technical exercise. But data only creates value when someone understands it and acts on it. That is where UX design matters most. Focusing on the user experience means three things: clarity over complexity, context that creates meaning, and mindfulness of the questions this viz needs to answer. Without these, dashboards become pretty pictures that sit unused. With them, they become decision-making tools that drive change. At its core, UX design in data visualization is about respecting the user’s time and cognition. It is not just design, it is leadership, because it empowers others to act with clarity.

🚨 UX Killers in Dashboards: The Top 5 Mistakes Analysts Keep Repeating Dashboards are meant to simplify decisions—but too often, they overwhelm. As marketers and analysts, we keep falling into the same traps that turn powerful dashboards into cluttered data graveyards. Here are the biggest UX mistakes I see (and how to fix them): 1️⃣ Cluttered Layouts → If everything is “important,” nothing is. Stick to 5–7 key KPIs max. 2️⃣ Wrong Chart Types → Stop using pie charts for everything. Use visuals that match the story. 3️⃣ Hidden Insights → If stakeholders have to dig, they won’t. Highlight trends, not raw dumps. 4️⃣ No Consistency → Mixed fonts, colors, and labels kill trust. Standardize for clarity. 5️⃣ Data Overload → Dashboards aren’t data warehouses. Filter, prioritize, and simplify. ✅ Pro tip: Pair good data storytelling with clean design. A dashboard should feel like a one-slide executive brief, not a detective hunt. 👉 What’s the worst dashboard design mistake you’ve seen in your work? #DashboardDesign #UX #DataStorytelling #MarketingAnalytics #LookerStudio #DataDriven

✨📊 Maximizing Design: How to Nail Data Viz for Every Customer 📊✨ Data visualization isn’t one-size-fits-all—your smallest customer and your biggest enterprise both see data differently. In our latest post, we break down how to design dashboards and charts that resonate with everyone, from the niche startup to the global player. 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gscARhEU #DataVisualization #DataViz #ProductDesign #Charts #Design #UI #UX

Why Metadata Is Your Product’s Real User Interface In AI and data products, UX isn’t just about how pretty your dashboards look or how slick your navigation feels. It’s about something deeper how well your metadata layer conveys meaning, context, and trust to every user interaction. If your metadata is weak: ➡️ Your AI assistant sounds vague. ➡️ Your lineage graphs are incomplete. ➡️ Your search experience is noisy or useless. ➡️ Your users are left guessing. Great metadata is invisible until you need it. But when you do, it powers: ➡️ Trusted GenAI copilots ➡️ Explorable lineage ➡️ Reliable search ➡️ Self-serve governance ➡️ Faster onboarding ➡️ Fewer Slack messages like “Is this the right dashboard?” Metadata has quietly moved from the back-office IT task to the frontline of user experience. It decides whether a user feels empowered or lost. It can make the difference between a tool people have to use and one they love to use. If you're building AI-native data experiences, your metadata is no longer a back-office job.It is the user experience. #AI #Data #Metadata #UX