# Where Does Data Fit in Your Design Decisions?

**URL:** <https://forum.zurb.com/t/where-does-data-fit-in-your-design-decisions/308>\
**Category:** Open topics\
**Created:** [October 28, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.zurb.com/t/where-does-data-fit-in-your-design-decisions/308 "2025-10-28T15:40:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nathaliesmith](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.zurb.com/nathaliesmith/32/443_2.png) [@nathaliesmith](https://forum.zurb.com/u/nathaliesmith)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://forum.zurb.com/t/where-does-data-fit-in-your-design-decisions/308/1 "2025-10-28T15:40:07Z")

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Now, while I understand the trends change, I’m seeing now more than ever, the perceived importance of meshing Designers + Data Driven decision making.

**I’m curious for our peeps in this Forum:**

1. Do you use data day to day to make decisions?
2. What are the most common occurrences?

OR

Do you have any blockers for leveraging data?

No wrong answers! Genuinely curious what this looks like in practical application, if at all! Tapping some of you I’d love to hear from 🙂

@mschindler @Jake_Johnson @manula @Irene_Sainas @emiliano.chinchelli @udhaya_kumar_padmana

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**Author:** ![EricZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.zurb.com/ericz/32/692_2.png) [@EricZ](https://forum.zurb.com/u/EricZ)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.zurb.com/t/where-does-data-fit-in-your-design-decisions/308/2 "2025-10-29T21:50:22Z")

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Data every day!

But seriously, it comes in waves, and it helps that I’m helping structure the problem area for the data collection. We’ve found like cycles of data collection once or twice a week can be very helpful in gathering signals that push projects forward.

There’s a lot that can be accomplished without data from continuous discovery, especially when there are core goals being targeted for improvement. But that continuous discovery data is crucial in the moment when the team is trying to innovate.

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**Author:** ![Bryan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.zurb.com/bryan/32/448_2.png) [@Bryan](https://forum.zurb.com/u/Bryan)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://forum.zurb.com/t/where-does-data-fit-in-your-design-decisions/308/3 "2025-10-30T02:30:38Z")

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Data before you build!

Many teams struggle to see how this fits into their processes due to the limitations they’ve developed over time.

→ WHY DATA (Frame the challenge): This data uncovers the motivations and needs behind user behaviors, providing insight into the root causes of why users do what they do.

→ HOW DATA (Assess the potential): It examines the user’s approach and interaction with a product or service, revealing their methods and experience.

→ WHAT DATA (Finalize the choices): This is the measurable outcome of user interactions with a product or service, offering concrete metrics on performance, usage, and satisfaction after launch.

 ![data-in-design](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/helio/original/1X/4197c1303bd819c727af0c64eea46b725051ca15.png)

…annnnndddd my latest post… data after launch? Too late.

The best data shapes the work while it’s being made. Most teams collect it after decisions are already made.

> **[How to Use Data to Shape Your Design Process | Bryan Zmijewski posted on the...](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bryanzmijewski_data-after-launch-too-late-the-best-data-activity-7388287773616750592-i1_-)**
>
> Data after launch? Too late.
> 
> The best data shapes the work while it’s being made. I hear it all the time, “data doesn’t explain why.” Of course it doesn’t. Most teams collect it after decisions are already made.
> 
> The real shift is timing.
> 
> Data...