Lowering the barrier to EU data

Cartarra is being shaped as a new EU data platform that lowers the barrier to finding and analyzing data. The ambition is not only to make datasets available, but also to clean them up, translate them into the user's preferred language, and make them easier to explore through maps, filters, and clear context.

The platform has to work for a very wide audience: curious users with no GIS experience, people who simply want a quick answer, and data specialists who need depth and control. The challenge is to make the product approachable without making it feel too limited for expert use.

I worked on the product framing and UX direction around discovery, translation, map-based exploration, and filtering. A lot of the design effort went into deciding what the product should explain, what it should automate, and where users still need transparent control over the data.

The product direction centers on an exploration workspace where users can find relevant data, understand what it means, see it on a map, filter it, and move toward analysis without needing to assemble the workflow themselves.

The concept gives the platform a clearer promise: make data useful earlier in the journey. That makes it easier to discuss features, onboarding, and trade-offs around both accessibility and analytical power.

Designing for 'anyone' does not mean designing for a vague average user. It means creating layers of understanding so different users can enter the same product at different levels of confidence.