45 min. talk
Delving into the world of the data scientist, this talk will show that once a few fundamentals of their language are understood, we can foster a valuable relationship between data and design. Leading to better outcomes for both parties.

Data
Big data
Data science
Artificial intelligence

The environment in which we work as designers and information architects is evolving into a complex world of interconnected devices, sensors, networks and diverse systems with such vast volumes of data being created that it can seem totally overwhelming. This profusion of data has seen the rise in importance of the data scientist in modelling this complex ecosystem. But the world of data science can seem quite foreign to designers where there is a whole new language to learn — of data mining and uncertainty modelling, machine learning & propensity scoring. If we don’t speak the same language how can we work together to find meaning and insight in the data?

This talk will delve into the world of the data scientist to show that their world is really not all that different from our own and that once a few fundamentals of the language are understood, it can enable us to see how a close relationship between data and design can lead to beneficial outcomes for both sides.

Using examples from my experience working with a data science team specialising in predictive algorithms, I will explore whether predicted future behaviour really can be used reliably to influence and customise user experiences, and how this can affect the role of the designer in the organisation.