What’s Wrong with Spotify’s Analytics Emails (a Design/UI/UX Audit)

Design Audit: Spotify for Artists

Today, I’m sharing my impressions of one of Spotify’s analytics touchpoints—a monthly email I receive with a boatload of design choices I mostly hope you will not copy, especially if you’re working in an enterprise capacity. Most of you by now probably know I have another career as a professional musician, and that includes having three recordings I … Read more

(8) reasons why data visualization training for your BI team may not increase analytics adoption

Inside view of empty airliner by JC Gellidon

Customers want simple, well-designed decision support tools and UX’s that are actionable. Businesses want to see value from data and adoption of data-driven decision making. However, the UX that is afforded to is often simply a byproduct of the analytics team’s engineering, or, at best, “data viz” efforts—and it’s not working. A decade later, success rates for data projects remain unchanged, despite vendor/BI tooling improvements. What are BI/analytics teams still missing? Design.

Analytics Translators = Data Product Management + Service Design?

Bridge to island

There’s a lot of buzz about analytics translators these days. In general, I find the name to be a really poor choice for what effectively is a product management role applied to internal data science or analytics services. But, I think the skills are really important. The question is, do you really need another role/headcount, … Read more

How do you make data products and services engaging without AI and advanced analytics?

Stressed office worker at laptop.

Low engagement; it’s a common challenge for many of my clients and the people I talk to in the analytics world. In fact, it’s the subject of my talk this year at the IIA Symposium next week. One of the concepts with design I like clients to think about with analytics is around whether your … Read more

Is an engineering or data-driven culture driving your current data product or analytics initiative toward risk?

Check engine light on car dashboard illuminated

Here are (25) design faults that should trigger the check-engine light I really don’t know much about cars. Furthermore, with all the computers on them now, I probably never will. However, I do care when the “CEL” goes on. The CEL, or check-engine light, is that often cryptic, blood-pressure-raising notification that mostly just makes you … Read more

Why Low Engagement May Not be the Problem With Your Data Product or Analytics Service

Engagement Rings

If you’re concerned about low engagement with your enterprise data product, analytics service, or decision support tool, then you might be focusing on the wrong problem. What you need to do is design an engaging experience, instead of focusing on the quantity of engagement. Gartner just posted new numbers in early 2019; once again, 80% … Read more

Keeping Analytics Solutions in Check with Customer Needs

Toy men assembling something with frustration

AI and Machine Learning Are Not a Panacea for Underused Analytics Services Ears, Eyes and Empathy Guide the Best MVPs Since AI, predictive, and prescriptive analytics are big right now, there is a tendency for companies to “want” to use this technology and throw it into their marketing jargon as well. Boards and executives are … Read more

Designing MVPs for Data Products and Decision Support Tools

Rough prototype of a miniature car powered by a AA battery

Author’s Note: This article was originally published to my mailing list, hence the reference to previous emails and published podcast episodes.   Before I jump into this week’s article on MVPs for custom data products, just wanted to address one listener’s response to the new podcast in case others had the same experience. Re: the audio … Read more