Data-intensive apps for work don't need to be UX-hostile and butt-ugly

"Why are data-intensive apps in the enterprise, healthcare, and public sector so unusable and scary-looking? Proven design techniques such as user research, information architecture, design patterns, and plain language guidelines turn data-intensive apps into information to easily act on. You don't need AI to do this. There is accounting for taste When choosing an accountant, the adage to find someone stereotypically boring, committed to a long, unadventurous journey, but good with the numbers is well-known, though outdated."

"Yet, this "dull and painful" advice still resonates in application experiences intended for data entry and information viewing by citizens, healthcare workers, students, call centre teams, and more. That's not good enough anymore. Expectations about all digital user experiences have evolved. Arguing that apps are for "internal" or "staff" use 'only' and so user experience design is unnecessary is insulting and wrong."

"The higher education, human resources, financial, customer support, service, and healthcare worlds have plenty of implemented examples demonstrating how basic design thinking and user experience are alien concept s. You know the sort of thing: You know it. That undesigned app experience for data work. (Screen: Ultan Ó Broin) Do not excuse the government and public sector technology teams for being behind the times with those appalling UIs. There are government UX resources available for public-sector digital transformation"

Data-intensive applications in enterprise, healthcare, and the public sector frequently have unusable, intimidating interfaces that hinder data entry and information viewing. Proven design techniques—user research, information architecture, reusable design patterns, and plain-language guidelines—transform dense interfaces into clear, actionable information without relying on AI. Traditional assumptions that internal or staff-only apps do not require good user experience are outdated and harmful. Public-sector teams often produce crowded, illogical screens despite available government UX resources and standards. Designers must replace machine-gunned data fields and siloed decision-making with user-centered design to meet modern digital expectations.

Read at Medium