Good technology starts with listening to the users, according to UX/UI human-centred designer

What is the most critical phase of any technology project? It begins with listening.

As a UX/UI Digital Designer who designs web applications, web portals, websites and data products for Australian organisations, the most important lesson I can impart is that design has a purpose beyond "making something look nice."

Design is about communicating clearly and solving a real problem for a real person. 

And I would argue that the most important phase of any technology project is not the build stage, but the understanding phase, when you stop to unpack what users are actually trying to solve and how they are going to solve it.

Working in data analytics and technology as a designer is creative

I began my career drawn to creativity. Initially, I studied graphic design with ambitions of illustration and print, before I discovered the emerging world of digital design.

When I started, UX and UI weren't standalone careers. Graphic design was mostly print-focused (typography, layouts, branding), with websites being a small component. But even back then, I was more excited by building digital experiences.

My first exposure to coding came at age 14, when a teacher introduced me to HTML and CSS. I built a basic website about The Simpsons. It was just three pages explaining the characters and the show, but that was the first time I realised I could build something interactive. That curiosity stayed with me.

After completing graphic design studies, I deepened my technical understanding through HTML, CSS and UX/UI training, gravitating toward product design and digital systems.

There's creativity in solving problems. That's what surprised me. I thought creativity meant illustration or posters. But designing systems that help people to work better is just as creative, and can be more impactful.

Working with Australian organisations as a UX/UI Designer

At data and digital transformation firm, Notitia, I work across complex digital projects for government and public sector organisations, where the impact of better systems can extend beyond a single business.

A lot of our clients manage regulatory obligations, reporting requirements and essential service delivery programs. Organisations that deliver services in areas like community programs, family services or public infrastructure. When we improve their systems it has a real-world ripple effect.

Many clients approach Notitia with symptoms rather than clearly defined problems. Sometimes organisations come to us with a lot of issues and they don't know how to tackle them. Part of our work is information gathering, hearing about their issues, prioritising what needs to be solved, and helping them to understand what they actually need.

This listening phase is central to our approach. Clients will say, "I need these reports every month but I have to look in five different places."

Our job is to unpack that and define the actual need. Maybe what they really require is automated reporting. Maybe it's a clearer dashboard structure. Sometimes they don't know yet - and that's okay.

Human-centred design in technology, web application and data analytics projects

At Notitia we use a human-centred design approach, which is a structured process that prioritises empathy and clarity. 

The empathising stage is the most important phase. You need to hear everything the client is saying to extract the main issues. This stage is critical because if you misunderstand the problem at the start, you can't provide the best solution. 

My team begins with low-fidelity wireframes, simplified prototypes that focus on functionality rather than aesthetics. We iterate with low effort first. We then test options and agree on outcomes. Only after that do we move into high fidelity, where it looks like a finished product. 

This structured process recently informed early-stage work for an Aboriginal community organisation seeking to centralise sensitive program data within a single platform. They needed a system that could manage different types of information across programs.

Notitia's design team worked through high-level wireframes to help them visualise what their platform could look like, and we documented the full requirements so they understood what they were building. 

Sometimes the biggest value we provide isn't just the final product, it's helping clients to articulate what they actually need.

One team across UX UI digital design, data analytics and web development

Collaboration across disciplines is critical in data-heavy projects. As designers, we work closely with web developers and data analytics specialists. 

When designing dashboards, for example, fitting everything onto one page might look impressive, but it's not always usable. Working closely with an analytics team ensures that we think more carefully about how data is structured, spread and prioritised.

In recent projects, we've supported dashboard delivery within platforms such as Qlik, refining after technical build stages are complete. The analytics team makes the data work. The design team helps to ensure that it's intuitive. Alignment, spacing and visual hierarchy, those details influence whether someone can confidently interpret what they're seeing.

Working as a UX/UI design leader in data

Looking back, I didn't anticipate working in technology and data analytics, but the transition feels natural. I'm curious by nature. I've always been drawn to learning about different industries and understanding how things work.

For newcomers entering digital product roles, the most important skill is listening. You have to be genuinely open, don't impose solutions. Discuss ideas. Be horizontal in your leadership style.

On International Women's Day, I hope more attention is paid to the influence designers have within technology teams. Good design shapes how decisions are made. If you build something intuitive, you change how people work. 

And that starts with listening.