Where there’s data, there’s people

How to see humans in a world of data

Rui Eduardo
Aug 8, 2017 · 4 min read
Illustration by Ana Mafalda Henriques

Being truly human means respecting our own, and each other’s, humanity. Being a good designer means honouring that humanity when we create. It means understanding people’s aspirations, abilities, efforts, and emotions. What we offer to the world should reflect all of these things, and make their lives better in some way. This is our mission.

Advances in data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence have the potential to enhance people’s lives, and the services they use. Computers can analyse and respond to data in really smart ways. Algorithms can identify and create patterns of human behaviour. But, these algorithms don’t understand human behaviour. (Not yet, at any rate.) The information they spit out isn’t necessarily ready for human consumption, or attuned to human needs. It can be raw, uncompromising, and impenetrable.

This presents a unique opportunity for designers. We can humanise that data, by translating and pulling insights from the outputs of those algorithms. That way, human knowledge and understanding can make sense of the results.

Why it’s important to humanise data

It creates a conversation

It gives us a new lens on data

It can serve as protection for humans

How can we make data more human?

Change the perspective

Make it real

Find a balance

Keep people at the heart

Seeing the bigger picture

We need to make sense of that data, to analyse it and to find the patterns and themes that will impact on humans. We can explore and expand on that content in smart, beautiful ways. So, in order to make the result more human, we need human input. Simple, right?

We’ve always been good at making sense of stuff. We make sense of nature and the cosmos with physics and of ourselves with psychology. As designers we help bridge the gap between technology and people, and ultimately make their lives better.


Co-written with:

Grace Hughes

Linkedin

Design Voices

A publication for designers, developers and data nerds - from the aspiring to the expert, and anywhere in between. Content created and curated by Fjord, design and innovation from Accenture Interactive.

Rui Eduardo

Written by

Designer. Systems and Experiences Development.

Design Voices

A publication for designers, developers and data nerds - from the aspiring to the expert, and anywhere in between. Content created and curated by Fjord, design and innovation from Accenture Interactive.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade