Vlad Neimark
GovData.hub – Designing an Analytics Platform Amidst Crisis
Role: Lead UX/UI Designer (hands‑on & team lead)
Team: 4 people — myself, UX Researcher, UI Designer, Junior UI Designer
Timeline: Feb 2022 — Sep 2022 (Active Design & Prototyping Phase)
Tools: Figma, FigJam, Mapbox, PowerBI, Trello
Our Center for Advanced Governance (CAG) team initiated a partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development to bring a concept for a national analytics platform to life. As the design lead for this initiative, I built and led a four-person squad. Together, we turned the concept into a 140-screen interactive prototype and a production‑ready design system. In seven months we aligned scattered stakeholders, built a usable data‑viz language, and cut the report cycle from 12 weeks to 4 — all while the project lost its leadership and unfolded amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Disclaimer: Much of what you’re about to see is protected by state-level confidentiality; the demo relies on obfuscated and test datasets.
  • Project
    GovData.hub was a programme of the Ministry of Digital Development to build a national data lake and a web‑based analytics hub. The platform would ingest anonymised datasets from dozens of federal systems and surface live dashboards, regional maps, and scenario‑modelling tools to support state‑level decisions.

    Article about the project launch (in Russian)
  • Initial Mission
    Our team originated from the Center for Advanced Governance (CAG),an NGO focused on evidence‑based policy. We believed that putting transparent numbers in front of officials could nudge the state toward more balanced, socially‑oriented governance.

    Our design challenge was to turn raw, siloed statistics into intuitive dashboards and give officials "what‑if" controls to test policies before implementation.
  • Target Users
    • Deputy ministers & department heads — need a 60‑second overview and the option to drill down.
    • Sector analysts — benchmark regions, detect anomalies, prepare briefings.
    • Strategic planning units — run forecasts and stress‑test budgets.
How it all started
The initiative began in February 2022 when
our team from the Center for Advanced Governance (CAG) partnered with the Russian Ministry of Digital Development. The Ministry was already setting out to build a national "data lake" to unify anonymised datasets. Our goal was to complement this with a user-facing analytics hub presenting real-time dashboards for decision-makers. My previous job at CAG had already plunged me into data analytics and evidence‑based policy, making it a natural step for me to lead the product design efforts within this joint initiative.
Recruiting a four‑person strike team
I knew that "government dashboard" is just a buzzword until you have research, information architecture, and pixel‑perfect data‑viz. To form a dedicated design unit within the larger CAG team for this project, I hired an experienced UX‑Designer, a strong UI‑designer, and a talented junior within two weeks, stepping in myself as hands-on Lead. The main hiring criterion was the ability to thrive in ambiguity and love raw data.
One month of hope — and instant chaos
Exactly a month later the project’s original sponsor and several key execs left. At the same time Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The emotional shock overlapped with the sudden vacuum of product vision. We were left without leadership, deadlines, or a clear charter, yet still expected to deliver.
How we tackled the challenge
Facing chaos and uncertainty, my team and I established the following process, with my active participation at every stage:
  • 1. Requirements Gathering & Research
    Without waiting for top-down instructions, we initiated information gathering. I participated in analyzing the results of interviews conducted by the product manager with user representatives (deputy ministers), and together with the UX Designer, we formulated key user insights and pain points. We established contact with the data analytics team to understand the data structure and potential.
  • 2. Concept Development & Planning
    Based on the research, the team and I formulated a product vision – an interactive analytics dashboard. I developed a phased plan for the design work, closely synchronized with analysts and developers.
  • 3. Iterative Design & Prototyping
  • IA & User Flows
I modeled key usage scenarios (e.g., "analyzing IT workforce dynamics by region," "evaluating operator N's network coverage"), visualizing them for discussion with the team and stakeholders. We used FigJam for collaborative work on the structure.
  • Wireframing & UI Design
I designed key dashboard screens, paying close attention to the clear presentation of complex data (charts, tables, maps) for non-technical users. Working with the UI designers, I refined the visual language, aiming for clarity and functionality.
  • Prototyping
I took on a significant portion of the work creating the complex interactive prototype in Figma. We utilized advanced techniques (components, variants, interactive components) to simulate filtering, data drill-down, mode switching, and even basic forecasting. This allowed us to test the UX and gather feedback with maximum efficiency.
  • 4. Agile & Communication
    I implemented and maintained weekly Scrum sprints, conducting daily stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives. I proactively built bridges with developers and analysts, organizing regular meetings to discuss mockups, data, and technical constraints. The prototype, visualizing the concept, became our main communication tool and argument.
  • 5. Mentorship & Learning
    Alongside my primary responsibilities, I learned extensively about UX from our UX Designer and mentored the junior UI designer, fostering their professional growth.
Ecosystem process map
Ecosystem process map
Naming brainstorm board
Naming brainstorm board
Brand style guide
Brand style guide
Design roadmap board
Design roadmap board
Prototype timeline map
Prototype timeline map
Initial sprint board
Initial sprint board
Core user flows
Core user flows
Screen spec cards
Screen spec cards
Navigation spec doc
Navigation spec doc
Dashboard layout draft
Dashboard layout draft
Widget wireframes
Widget wireframes
First UI concept
First UI concept
Alpha clickable prototype
Alpha clickable prototype
Filter layout sketch
Filter layout sketch
Filter components
Filter components
Expanded screen set
Expanded screen set
Near-final UI
Near-final UI
Refined map widgets
Refined map widgets
Final chart UI
Final chart UI
Figma interaction map
Figma interaction map
The Solution & Outcome
Despite the difficulties and eventual reorganization, our contribution as a design team was substantial:
High-Fidelity Interactive Prototype
The main outcome of our work. This wasn't just a "set of screens" but a simulation of the actual product, demonstrating key UX scenarios. Key contributions of the prototype:

  • Clarity for All: It helped the client and adjacent teams see and "touch" the future solution.
  • Efficient Testing: Allowed for rapid hypothesis testing and user feedback collection directly from user representatives.
  • Quality UX/UI: The prototype showcased thoughtful solutions for data visualization, navigation, and interaction, tailored to the specifics of high-ranking users. We paid special attention to automating charts within Figma, bringing them closer to the functionality of BI tools.
Project Stabilization
Our proactivity, the creation of a clear concept, and the working prototype helped prevent the project from collapsing at a critical juncture and establish necessary interaction between disconnected teams.
Foundation for Future Work
The design artifacts created (mockups, prototype, UI kit elements) served as a foundation for subsequent developments within Mintsifry (Ministry of Digital Development), even after the initial team was disbanded.
Results
Our approach delivered tangible value well before any production code shipped:
  • Report cycle 12 → 4 weeks
    Automated data ingest and ready dashboards replaced manual Excel consolidation.
  • 12 interactive dashboards
    across six domains (IT finance, telecom coverage, labour market, taxes, e‑services, internet resources).
  • Scenario modeller
    enabling officials to test budget and workforce assumptions in under 60 seconds.
My Role & Key Learnings
This project was a powerful learning experience for me, significantly advancing my UX/UI design skills and leadership capabilities under pressure:
  • Growth as a UX/UI Designer
    I gained invaluable hands-on experience across the product design spectrum: from conducting in-depth user research analysis and designing complex IA for analytical systems to creating intuitive interfaces for non-technical users and achieving advanced mastery of Figma for complex prototyping.
  • Leadership Through Design
    I learned not just to manage a team, but to drive the project forward using strong design solutions and effective visualization of ideas (via the prototype). I understood how design can be a crucial tool for building communication and forging a shared vision.
  • Value of Team Expertise
    It reinforced the importance of working with strong specialists and learning from colleagues. The UX Designer's experience significantly accelerated my understanding and application of UX processes.
  • Adaptability & Problem-Solving
    The project honed my ability to operate effectively under extreme uncertainty, adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and proactively seek solutions without waiting for direction.
  • Focus on User & Functionality
     I realized the critical importance of deeply understanding user needs (even those of high-level officials) and prioritizing interface functionality and clarity over purely aesthetic concerns, especially in early stages and for complex data-heavy systems.
  • Working in a Specific Environment
    Gained unique experience designing for the public sector, developing an understanding of its specific constraints, processes, and opportunities.
Key Takeaway
For a UX/UI designer, the ability not only to create quality interfaces but also to understand the broader context, proactively solve problems, communicate effectively, and lead (even without formal authority) are crucial for success in complex, uncertain projects. This experience demonstrated that a robust design process and tangible artifacts, like a high-fidelity prototype, can serve as an anchor for an entire project during a crisis.
So, am I hired? 😄
Okay, kidding (mostly!). But seriously, feel free to reach out – let's chat about design, projects, or anything else!
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