A User-Centered Design Process for Data-Driven Policymaking

Well-conceived, user-friendly data visualizations have the potential to bring fresh perspectives derived from analyzing, visualizing, and presenting data to inform evidence-based policymaking. This case uses the Metroverse project from the Growth Lab at Harvard University as an example to demonstrate the value of taking a user-centered mindset to build effective, online data platforms. The Metroverse project is a high-stakes data project that has the potential to influence policy matters in large cities and metropolitan areas, potentially impacting millions of urban residents. This case enables students to design storytelling data visualization projects using the three components of the case, (a case study; “Detroit Scenario”; an issue brief, “A User-Centered Design Process for Data-Driven Policymaking”; and the Metroverse website), and a workshop kit of Metroverse materials that includes data sets, research resources, and user profiles, developed by the Growth Lab team through a user-centered design process.