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Data Science Hearts User Experience

5/23/2014

I feel bad for data scientists that have gotten stuck on ad targeting.

When your job is to increase engagement on something you've shoved in someone's stream or in someone's search results, then you're effectively pissing against the UX wind. That can't feel good. Your job is antagonistic to your users' goals (because your users aren't your customers).

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The Forgotten Job of a Data Scientist: Editing

5/8/2014

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I have made this [letter] longer than usual, because I have not had time to make it shorter. –Blaise Pascal

Within the arts, there has always been a tension between ornamentation and simplicity. The good artist is one who can execute a technique exceptionally, but the great artist is one who knows when to hold back.

I myself love a good grilled London Broil. But whenever I make it myself, it tastes like pencil erasers. I learned that I was adding way too much oregano to the marinade, and it was overpowering everything. If a little is good, how can more not be good-er?

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Hey, I'm John, the data scientist at MailChimp.com.

This blog is where I put thoughts about doing data science as a profession and the state of the "analytics industry" in general.

Want to get even dirtier with data? Check out my blog "Analytics Made Skeezy", where math meets meth as fictional drug dealers get schooled in data science.

Reach out to me on Twitter at @John4man

Click here to buy the most amazing spreadsheet book you've ever read (probably because you've never read one).

Data Science Hearts User Experience

The Forgotten Job of a Data Scientist: Editing

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