Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Prerequisite: None

Sam Wong

Senior Director of Data, Analytics, and AI

Mark Anthony Group

AI can build a dashboard. But can it tell the story?

In a world where generative AI can produce a collection of charts in seconds, the technical barrier to "building" a dashboard is vanishing. However, the result is often a faster version of an old problem: a noisy graveyard of KPIs that lacks context, empathy, and a clear path to action. The value of a modern data professional is shifting from technical configuration to strategic design intent.

This immersive, activity-based workshop reimagines dashboard design as an exercise in empathy, narrative flow, and purposeful communication. Without the distraction of laptops or software, students will use design thinking techniques to solve the problems that automated tools often create: clutter, lack of context, and poor user adoption.

Participants will learn how to treat AI as a powerful creative partner—using it to synthesize requirements and spark ideas—while remaining the ultimate architect of the data story. Through high-impact collaborative exercises, you will master the universal principles of visual hierarchy and human-centered design that no machine can replicate on its own.

Leave the "pixel-pushing" to the machines. Learn to be the architect of the story.

You Will Learn:

• AI-augmented design thinking: How to use AI to help uncover user needs, build personas, and define the "why" behind the data.
• The narrative blueprint: Principles of visual storytelling that turn raw metrics into compelling, decision-oriented narratives.
• Functional layouts: Techniques for building visual hierarchy and flow that guide a user’s eye to the most critical insights first.
• The science of seeing: Best practices for color, typography, and chart selection that reduce cognitive load and enhance understanding.
• Clutter surgery: How to identify and eliminate "chart junk" to spotlight the metrics that actually drive business value.
• Leading the critique: Methods for facilitating feedback sessions that evaluate work based on clarity and adoption rather than just "cool factor."

Geared To:

• BI developers and analytics engineers evolving their roles for the AI era.
• Data analysts and product owners bridging the gap between data and business value.
• Data leaders looking to foster a culture of design excellence and data literacy.

Prerequisites: 

A strong opinion about pie charts—and a willingness to use AI to find a better way.