Dashboards are a way to represent and give life to data which is in abundance in today’s world. It is one thing to know the technical aspect of how to build a dashboard - this part of the dashboarding process is widely talked about and you will find many tutorials online talking about this same.

However, knowing how to give life to data is a skill which is not talked about as much as it should be. Dashboards are most useful when the data speaks a story through the dashboard reports.

Have you ever created a dashboard but felt like it was not well received by the stakeholders in spite of having a dashboard feature rich and having immaculate data accuracy?

This is because the data did not resonate with the end user!

The best way to resonate with the user is by developing a dashboard with a layout which is coherent with the data and formatting which is consistent throughout the dashboard and adds value to the storytelling process.

Keep reading to understand what I mean by this!

Dashboard Type

Dashboards often have different purposes - they can be either exploratory where users explore the data which is presented to them or can be explanatory where the dashboards have predetermined points and stories that take the user through a specific journey.

Exploratory dashboards usually have more filters and slicers so users can deep dive into the data and find their own answers to any business question. These dashboards often also have features to drill down into the data and have interactions between charts turned on. This gives freedom to the user and allows them to play around with the data and find more meaningful insights from the data.

However, explanatory dashboards tend to have less options to filter and slice the data as these dashboards already have filtered down data which is required for the story. These dashboards are often created for a specific purpose to explain a specific campaign or product performance to top executives.

Knowing which type of dashboard is required helps us decide the layout, filters and chart types of the dashboard!

Dashboard Size and Layout

The next important step is to determine the size and layout of the dashboard. Do you want a dashboard that is 1200 x 800 pixels or 2000 x 1000 pixels or go for a long form vertical dashboard which allows for a more focused look at the data.

Standard Form: This is most commonly used where the dimensions are usually 1200 x 800 pixels or 2000 x 1000 pixels. This means that the user does not have to scroll much and all the contents are visible in any standard monitor. This is great as users can see all the charts and graphs at a glance and can correlate between different charts!

Here is an example of a standard form dashboard.

Long Form (Vertical): This is typically used in cases where the data involves a long complicated story. This is read very much like a magazine - you start from the top and keep scrolling down for the data to make full sense. However, this format is not a popular choice till now in the business world and needs to be used with caution.

Once you have the dashboard size fixed, we can then start thinking about the layout of the dashboard.

The most important thing to keep in mind here is how the human brain usually reads a book. The standard consensus among people is that we start reading from the top left and keep going right and down from there.

The same principle applies here!

This means the storytelling process in the dashboard must start from the top left and continue based on this principle. As a result, we put the most important aspects of the dashboard in the top left and the least important charts in the bottom right.

Some Common Dashboard Layouts

Let's now take a look at some sample dashboard layouts which are most commonly used in today’s world.

This layout below is the common and simple type of dashboard layout. The 4 corner grid layout is simple to read and comprehend as a user and is easily identifiable into groups.

This layout is also quite easy to read and view. However, this type of layouts are only compatible with certain types of charts which are typically read vertically. To keep consistency, it is always a good idea to keep all the filters on one side so the user knows exactly how to filter the data!

The third layout is also quite commonly used in performance monitoring dashboards where the top row is dedicated for scorecards which showcase the performance of important KPIs at a glance. The bottom two rows can either be a 4 corner grid layout or have a more custom layout as shown in the template above. This is a great way to capture the attention of the user and allow for more data representation than most typical dashboards.

There are many other layouts which can be used for your dashboard depending on the requirements and type of data you are working with. However, keep in mind that a good layout allows for easy readability of the data and avoids clutter.

Dashboard Formatting

While designing a dashboard, we must always keep in mind the dashboard format and make sure it is coherent across the dashboard. We must consider things such as:

Consistent fonts
Dashboard background shade
Type of charts in use
Color theme

Choose the right types of chart!

Choosing the right type of chart is very important to ensure that the design of the dashboard complements the data we are visualizing.

For instance, a time series trend data is usually best represented using a line chart whereas a pie chart is used to show the split of something, for example, the split of customers by their gender.

Some of the most common types of charts are:

Comparison Charts such as bar chart, line chart etc
Composition Charts such as stacked area chart, pie chart
Distribution Charts such as histogram and scatter plot

Here is a tip for the next time you are building a dashboard:

Try experimenting with different visuals - be it built-in or custom visuals. Observe how changing the visual can impact the outcome of the insights and information you can gather from the same data. This is a great way to understand why choosing the right type of chart is so crucial while designing a dashboard.

Use a Color Theme

If you work for a company, they most likely have a color theme that they follow across the organization. While designing a dashboard, we must keep this color theme consistent to follow the brand’s identity. This includes the colors, fonts and graphics.

On top of this, it is also important to keep the dashboard theme consistent across different charts and tabs. Have you ever come across a dashboard that just looks too much for the eyes and brain?

Take this dashboard for example:

Even though the dashboard is well structured, it is still difficult to read with bright and uncoordinated colors making the dashboard difficult to look at.

Here is the same report with a different color theme:

Here the charts look a lot cleaner with colors which are easier on the eyes of the user. This is a great example of how color themes can help create a great dashboard!

In Conclusion

Dashboard design is one of the key aspects of creating a good dashboard. We talked about things such as dashboard type, its size, layout and last but not the least- dashboard formatting.

Do remember, this is only one facet of the dashboard creation process. Try to keep these tips in mind the next time you start building a dashboard. However, knowing the theory behind this is one thing. But to implement these practices, you must explore the different functionalities of visualization tools such as Power BI. To learn more about data visualization, read this article.

Keep learning and happy dashboarding!

FAQs

What are the essential elements of a good dashboard?

A good dashboard includes key performance indicators (KPIs), clear and concise data visualizations, real-time data updates, interactive elements (such as filters and drill-downs), and a user-friendly design. It should provide relevant context and be tailored to the specific needs of its users.

What are the 3 main purposes of a dashboard?

Dashboards are useful for monitoring, measuring, and analyzing relevant data in key areas. They take raw data from many sources and clearly present it in a way that's highly tailored to the viewer's needs.

How can I gather feedback to improve my dashboard?

Regularly request feedback from the dashboard’s users through surveys, interviews, or usability testing. Pay attention to their suggestions and pain points, and use this feedback to make iterative improvements to the dashboard.

Dashboard Layout & Formatting: Dashboard Design 101