In our latest project, the goal was to immerse ourselves into a specific job role, thoroughly researching its tasks and decision-making processes. From this deep dive, we were tasked with creating user stories - a description of what the user wants and why - and then come up with good chart ideas to guide our data analysis.
What Went Well
Crafting a detailed plan was the first step, clearly outlining what was needed for the final presentation. This plan kept the project focused, on track, and on time, demonstrating the value of organisation and time management in project execution.
Areas for Improvement
Understanding the purpose of a user story is crucial. It's not just a box to check off; it's a tool designed to keep us on course, ensuring that we deliver actionable insights. It reminds us to use our time and resources efficiently and effectively. Moving forward, I will provide greater emphasis on specifying user interactions to ensure my work is as relevant and useful as possible.
Technical Takeaway
An important realisation was that more interactivity isn't always the answer. For example, using parameters to control chart visibility can sometimes overcomplicate the user experience. Splitting these into multiple, always-visible charts can significantly enhance dashboard accessibility for the end user. This approach simplifies interaction, making data insights more approachable and easier to understand.
Conclusion
This project highlighted the importance of strategic planning, the thoughtful application of user stories, and the balance between interactivity and accessibility in data visualisation. As I continue to refine my approach, I will become quicker, more efficient, and more accurate with creating and contributing to user-centred and impactful data analysis projects.