AI Ad Manger- Dashboard Data Visualization
AI Ad Manager is a redesigned AI-driven ads platform tailored for B2B use, aimed at streamlining the advertising process and maximizing performance for advertisers.
Dashboard Data Visualization was a focused subproject within the broader AI Ad Manager redesign initiative, where I owned the end-to-end design process — from mapping user flows to delivering high-fidelity prototypes and collaborating with engineers for implementation.
Duration
4 months
My Role
UX Designer
UX Researcher
Team
2 Product Managers
2 Product Ops
4 Developers
The Problem
Non-intuitive data presentation hinders decision-making
Dashboards are meant to deliver critical information at a glance to support business decisions. However, user feedback revealed that the current design fails to provide a clear, comprehensive overview, limiting its effectiveness and slowing down users' ability to act quickly.
Design Outcome
Understanding The Problem
To dive deeper, I conducted online survey and interviews to pinpoint specific inefficiencies and user needs.
User Research Insights
After conducting the primary research, I analyze the data to identify common themes and insights.
Identify Design Opportunities
Based on the users' pain points I discovered, I transformed them into design opportunities.
Learn From Competitors
When analyzing dashboards from platforms like Meta, LinkedIn, and TikTok, I noticed that many structure information in a way that helps users quickly understand the purpose of each section at a glance. Instead of presenting all data in one stream, they create clear visual groupings—making it easier to scan, identify key areas, and immediately grasp what each part of the dashboard is for. This layered information layout inspired me to rethink how I organize data, so users can navigate more intuitively and focus on what matters most.
Brainstorming & Feature Planing
After competitive analysis, I had a deep-dive brainstorming with other designers, where we explored ideas from different angles. Following the generation of numerous ideas, I facilitated a workshop to deliberate on the priority features to be included in our project. The participants encompassed the PM, PO team, and Devs. We collectively prioritized the features based on considerations.
Create 2.0 IA
Following design decisions, I‘ve developed the IA for the new dashboard. This aims to ensure a clear and organized layout, as well as a well-defined hierarchy. Collaborating closely with our lead engineer during this process allowed me to refine and simplify the architecture, ensuring significantly reducing user steps.
Iteration, iteration, iteration...
After wrapping up the hi-fi design, I ran multiple rounds of user testing and spotted quite a few usability issues—many of which I was able to fix. Here are a few examples:
1. Enhancing Ad Status Visibility
User testing revealed that advertisers closely track pending ads to avoid missing deadlines, but the existing ad list didn’t visually differentiate them. With support from the PM, I made two key changes:
1) Added color-coded labels to highlight high-priority campaigns
2) Introduced progress pop-ups for pending ads to help users catch delays early and take action
Before: the ordinary campaign list
After: A campaign list with color-coded labels & ads progress
2. Improving Trend Clarity and Top Campaign Visibility
User testing showed that combining metrics from different categories in one chart caused confusion, and advertisers often had to manually filter data to analyze top-performing ads. To address this, I made two key adjustments:
1) Separated category-specific data in the Trend module and displayed them clearly below the chart for better readability
2) Added a "Top Campaigns" section in a more prominent spot to help users access high-impact metrics faster and support better budget decisions
Before: Data trend and two mini trend cards
After: Separated the data from different categories and introduced a "Top Campaigns" module
Final Solution - Hi, welcome to the new dashboard exprience
01. Quick Overview of Account Performance
A dashboard enables the advertisers to quickly get the trend and situation of the account and make the decision and strategy accordingly.
02. Easy-to-Read Data with Color
Color-coded labels and intuitive visualizations help users quickly grasp key metrics at a glance. This design reduces cognitive load and makes it easier to spot areas that need attention.
03. Seamless Access Across Modes and Devices
The dashboard supports both light & dark modes, as well as a responsive mobile version—offering a consistent and flexible experience across different user needs
Performance & Impact
Video Walkthrough - The entire project
Reflection
“Small Details are a Big Deal”
This phrase encapsulates one of the most profound realizations I've had throughout this project, and it echoes the wisdom imparted to me by my mentor. As I reflect on the journey of this project, I've come to understand the immense significance of even the smallest elements. Whether it's the precise font size, the subtle nuances of color contrast, or the seemingly trivial placement of buttons, each detail plays a pivotal role in shaping the user experience.
Through the course of this project, I've learned to approach design with a meticulous eye for detail, recognizing that every pixel matters. By prioritizing the refinement of these small yet critical elements, I've been able to elevate the overall quality of the user experience. Moving forward, I will continue to embrace this philosophy, understanding that it is often the small details that make the biggest difference.
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