Beyond data: How to be insightful, not just knowledgeable

Half day workshop. Tuesday 25 August 2015, afternoon

Description

In a world obsessed with data, how do we make sense of the information available and remain focused on what’s important?
The difference between data and insights is simple: data show what happens, and insights explain what it means. This workshop details six strategies that help turn data into insights and equips the audience with the mindset and basic skills for performing the magic of insightful storytelling.

About the topic

Today’s world runs on data.

A lot of design research guidance focuses on data collection, on how to get different kinds of data. Existing data collection techniques are constantly perfected, and new ones appear frequently.

Less specific advice is given on data analysis, on what to do once you collect the data you want. This is particularly true for qualitative data. Every design researcher knows that she needs to look for data patterns, but not every design researcher knows how to do it, step by step.
It becomes even murkier when we move from analysis to synthesis, to making sense of data rather than simply showing the results. Here, the researcher is often left on her own, trying to figure the magic without being taught how to perform it. Many design researchers, skilled in various data collection techniques, are often unclear about what data synthesis actually means.

But data are not insights.

The difference between data and insights is simple: data show what happens, and insights explain what it means. Data are facts, they are dots that need to be connected with inspiring insights.

In a world obsessed with data, how do we make sense of the vast information we have, and keep focus on what’s important?

This workshop bridges that gap. It presents six strategies that help turn data into insights and train ‘the insights muscle’ of UX practitioners.
These strategies are relatively simple and can be covered in one interactive session. They are content agnostic and can be used by design researchers, strategists and other team members. They are broad and address different research phases, from planning data collection to reporting outcomes, and beyond. These six strategies are by no means exhaustive, but they equip the audience with the mindset and basic skills for performing the magic of data synthesis and insightful storytelling.

What you’ll learn

By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of data synthesis and its difference from analysis
  • Learn six strategies of framing meaningful research outcomes and turning research data into insights
  • Practice each strategy through a variety of individual and group exercises
  • Share their own tips on framing insights with fellow UX practitioners
  • Reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply it in their work

Workshop structure

The workshop will be a mixture of theory and hands-on activities.

Target audience

UX practitioners involved in collecting, analyzing and communicating various data at any level, from peers to clients and executive stakeholders. The target audience can be user/design researchers, UX generalists, strategists, product managers, information designers, content specialists, and others.

The workshop will be particularly beneficial for professionals with less than 10 years of experience.

Take aways

You will receive a version of the deck presented during the session.

The session handouts/take-away materials will be summarized in more text-heavy “strategy cards”, supported by introduction into the subject, some illustrations and key tips on where and how to use the strategies. Each strategy card will contain a description of the strategy, part(s) of the process where it’s typically used, questions to answer and/or steps to take, and a brief rationale for using the strategy. Each strategy card will be followed by 2-3 illustrations of the strategy in use.

After the workshop, you will also receive a copy of the Primer on Conducting Insightful Conversations that they will generate during the wrap-up exercise.