How can you design a dashboard that provides meaningful insights?

2 Define your goals

Another key step in designing your dashboard is to define your goals and metrics. What are you trying to achieve with your dashboard? What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure your progress and success? How do they align with your business objectives and user goals? You should have a clear and concise statement of your dashboard's purpose and scope, and select the most relevant and meaningful metrics that support it. You should also avoid including too many or too few metrics, as this can cause confusion or distraction. A good rule of thumb is to limit your dashboard to 5-9 metrics that cover the most important aspects of your goal.

3 Choose your data sources

Once you have your goals and metrics, you need to choose your data sources and ensure their quality and reliability. Your data sources are the foundation of your dashboard, and they should provide accurate, timely, and consistent information. You should also consider how often your data is updated, how it is collected and processed, and how it is secured and protected. You may need to integrate multiple data sources from different systems or platforms, such as APIs, databases, or cloud services. In that case, you should use tools or methods that can streamline and automate your data integration and ensure its compatibility and integrity.

4 Plan your layout

The next step in designing your dashboard is to plan your layout and structure. Your layout should follow a logical and intuitive order, and guide your users' attention and actions. You should use a grid system or a template to organize your dashboard elements, such as charts, tables, filters, or buttons. You should also use white space, borders, or colors to create visual hierarchy and contrast. A common layout strategy is to place the most important or summary information at the top or left of your dashboard, and the more detailed or specific information at the bottom or right. You should also group related elements together and label them clearly.

5 Select your visual elements

The final step in designing your dashboard is to select your visual elements and styles. Your visual elements should enhance your data and make it easy to understand and compare. You should choose the appropriate type of chart or graph for your data, such as bar, line, pie, or scatter. You should also use colors, shapes, icons, or fonts that are consistent, attractive, and accessible. You should avoid using too many or too flashy colors, as they can distract or confuse your users. You should also use legends, titles, axes, or tooltips to provide context and explanation for your visual elements.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?