BUILDING A TRANSPARENT DATA DASHBOARD TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC TRUST
PROJECT DURATION
May - Oct 2024 (initial launch) + 2025 iteration
ROLE
Design Strategy , UX Research, Project Manager
PROJECT OVERVIEW
In partnership with the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) , Center for Civic Design designed and launched an interactive online election data dashboard to centralize public election data to improve transparency and instill confidence in the electoral process among voters.
The Michigan Voting Dashboard was launched in October 2024, ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Learn more about the design approach in a resource published by Center for Civic Design.
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
As Lead UX Researcher, I oversaw strategic planning, UX design, and user research from initial concept through launch and dashboard refinement.
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Design Strategy I helped define the dashboard's purpose and content, ensuring that our design choices meet user needs and align with MDOS goals. I collaborated closely with a UI designer and a cross-functional product team at MDOS.
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User Research I conducted user research to inform roadmap decisions and prioritize features for the ongoing design refinement in the product development process.
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Design Direction I provided strategic design direction to ensure usability.
IMPACT
The dashboard made data readily available, which contributed to:
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Fewer public record requests Nearly eliminated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for early voting and absentee ballot data.
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High public engagement The dashboard received 345,000+ views in October and December 2024, reducing the risk of misinformation leading up to the presidential election.
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Improved transparency for journalists and researchers Supported more accurate media reporting and boosted public confidence in the electoral system.
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Nationally recognized Received a Spotlight Award in the 2025 ClearMark Awards from Center of Plain Language for excellence in plain language and impactful communication.