Ask Data

HeroAskD.jpg

Overview

In 2012, Tableau became the leading platform in the industry for Analytics and Business Intelligence. With groundbreaking technology, VizQL, Tableau revolutionized the way people interact with data, through a drag-and-drop interface.

In 2017, my team was tasked with delivering the next wave of analytics to further democratize access to data analytics. We had to design a new experience that made it possible for people to interact with their data using Natural Language.

Design Team

I was the lead Product designer on a design team made up of:

  • 2 UX Designer

  • 1 User Researcher

  • 1 Visual Designer

We all worked alongside a Product Management and Engineering team across Palo Alto, Seattle and Vancouver.

Design Challenges

Designing for a maturing technology space, like Natural Language Query (NLQ), offers lots of exciting opportunities for design exploration. Nonetheless, this also meant that design decisions had to take into account the current limitations and future potentials of our technology.

Design Approach

  • Discovery & Research: We grounded product business goals in findings from user scenarios and other research findings. I designed information architecture maps to expose potential opportunities in the user flow.

  • Design Kickoff & Exploration: I explored design metaphors and concepts that support user goals and needs through a series of prototypes and mockups.

  • Design Critique & User Evaluation: I shared mockups of varying fidelity to facilitate design conversations with users and other stakeholders, aimed at validating design decisions.

  • Production Design: Churned out high fidelity design specs and worked alongside engineering team to implement designs.

Paul Lazarus