Abstract

In the contemporary data ecosystem, non-specialized users frequently face barriers when accessing official statistics, a structural disconnect illustrated by the United Nation's "data onion" model. Bridging this divide requires rethinking the role of citizens along the data value chain, as established by the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data, which highlights that statistical production achieves true public value and democratic legitimacy when citizens participate across all stages. This paper focuses on the output and dissemination phase, demonstrating how User-Centered Design (UCD) serves as a practical methodology to tailor public data products to societal needs. We present three empirical case studies from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reflecting different levels of user engagement: (1) IBGE Educa, an early-stage participatory sketching initiative where students expressed their visual mental models for a statistical portal; (2) Jogo da Independência, an interactive educational tool validated through direct classroom usability testing; and (3) the IBGE Cidades Redesign, a large-scale architecture restructuring informed by structured user research, including questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and persona creation. Together, these initiatives illustrate how tailored UCD approaches align with the principles of citizen data, ensuring official statistical products are accessible, understandable, and directly responsive to public expectations while strengthening institutional trust and statistical literacy.