Data is everywhere — from your work desk to your smartphone to your fridge — and in 2019 it has evolved from the output of a digital product to the product itself. What does that mean for us as builders of products? Let’s talk about how designers can make meaning from data in product experiences and, with it, better, more human-centered technology.

1. Human Readable:
Designing Data for Carbon-
Based Lifeforms
Sarah Goldschmidt
May 2019

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The way we think about data has
evolved from output of a product
to the product itself.

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Charts are great for making
data visible, but not always
human readable.

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That requires meaning.

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Data becomes human
readable when it’s wrapped
in meaning.

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And meaning is how we get
from 1,2,3 to “Aha!”

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Meet the Meaning:
The Core Factors of
employee engagement.
A common language that
wraps data in meaning.

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So really, it’s not just meaning.
Right? It’s story.

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When design transforms data
into story, magic happens.

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Find what’s important
to your people.
Step 1

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Prepare your palette.
Your data palette.
Step 2

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Design a story.
Not a chart.
Step 3

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Validate the “aha”
Step 4

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Be curious, have fun, and
make something meaningful!

22. Girl Geek @
SurveyMonkey
May 29, 2019