Lithium-ion batteries and EV supply chains are moving fast. Prices fluctuate, supply chains shift, and analysts are expected to make sense of vast, complex datasets. For investors, accuracy and clarity are everything. For analysts, speed and usability are non-negotiable.
Bridge Studio worked with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence to design a custom price builder dashboard. The goal was simple in theory but challenging in practice: turn complicated datasets into an intuitive, interactive tool. Analysts needed to build custom commodity price charts quickly, explore data with confidence, and communicate insights to investors without wading through spreadsheets. This is an energy UX case study in clarity, adoption, and impact.
The challenge: complexity meets usability
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence tracks multiple commodities—lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite—across global supply chains. Analysts needed to see trends, compare prices, and produce charts for internal and client use.
Their previous interface was rigid. Users struggled to customise charts, often exported data into external tools, and frequently made errors. Adoption was low. Analysts spent more time managing the tool than extracting insights.
The challenge was clear: create a platform that handled complexity while remaining user-friendly. One that made adoption intuitive and reliable. One that delivered value for both analysts and investors.
Understanding user needs
We started by observing analysts in real workflows. Interviews and sessions revealed three key friction points:
- Data overload – Too many metrics at once, leaving users unsure where to focus.
- Rigid processes – Limited ability to customise charts or explore scenarios.
- Unclear visualisation – Static charts that required interpretation, adding risk of misreading data.
These findings shaped the design strategy. The dashboard had to make complex data manageable without simplifying it to the point of losing nuance.
Designing for clarity and flexibility
Clarity
Clarity was non-negotiable. The dashboard needed to present complex datasets in a way that was immediately understandable.
- Key metrics first: Important price trends and outliers were front and centre.
- Contextual explanations: Tooltips and inline guidance explained calculations in plain language.
- Consistent visual cues: Colours, line styles, and chart types were standardised for fast comparison.
Flexibility
Analysts also needed freedom to explore data.
- Custom chart building: Select commodities, timeframes, and chart types.
- Scenario comparisons: Overlay historical and projected prices to evaluate trends.
- Export options: Share insights easily with colleagues or clients.
By combining clarity with flexibility, the dashboard reduced cognitive load and improved workflow efficiency. Analysts could now explore, interpret, and communicate data without friction.
Iterative design and testing
We prototyped rapidly. Early wireframes revealed unexpected behaviour:
- Analysts tried chart interactions that the prototype didn’t support.
- Some terminology caused confusion.
- Multi-commodity views created cognitive overload.
Iterative adjustments solved these issues. Drag-and-drop chart elements, inline explanations, and dynamic filters transformed the tool into a natural, intuitive interface. Analysts could manipulate complex datasets without losing context.
Results: adoption, efficiency, and trust
The redesigned dashboard delivered measurable outcomes:
- Higher adoption: Analysts relied on the dashboard instead of external tools.
- Faster analysis: Chart creation and data exploration time reduced by almost half.
- Fewer errors: Inline guidance reduced misinterpretation of metrics.
- Investor confidence: Clear visuals and interactive charts provided reassurance that data was accurate and actionable.
The tool became more than a dashboard, it became an enabler of decisions, a trust signal for investors, and a benchmark for energy UX best practices.
Lessons from this energy UX case study
- Invest in user research early – Understand analyst and investor workflows before designing.
- Prioritise clarity – Present actionable insights without overloading the user.
- Iterate relentlessly – Testing prototypes exposes friction points invisible on paper.
- Empower users – Flexible tools encourage engagement and build confidence.
- Design for trust – Clear, intuitive interfaces signal reliability to both users and investors.
These lessons extend beyond lithium-ion and EV markets. Any energy platform dealing with complex datasets can benefit from a UX-first approach.
Conclusion
Complex data doesn’t have to overwhelm. This energy UX case study shows how Bridge Studio transformed a complicated lithium-ion and EV dataset into a tool that analysts use daily and investors trust. Adoption improved, efficiency increased, and confidence soared.
For companies operating in the energy transition, design is not optional. It is a strategic asset. Clear dashboards, interactive tools, and thoughtful UX drive adoption, reduce friction, and turn raw data into actionable insight.
Explore more in our Design for renewables and energy transition page and dive deeper into related insights in our Knowledge Hub.
