| Designing effective performance dashboards can be a | | | | or date line. Pie and doughnut charts are effective for |
| challenge for beginners. Some common questions | | | | displaying data as percentages. |
| asked of new dashboard designers include: | | | | - Gauges and dials can be a visually appealing way to |
| - What metrics should I visualize? | | | | display specific subsets of data (usually the data |
| - What visualization controls should I use to represent | | | | subset is related to another visual element such as a |
| my data? | | | | chart). They are also useful when determining the |
| - What is the most effective dashboard design and | | | | performance of some metric. For example, how close |
| layout? | | | | is your company to meeting its sales targets? |
| Purpose of Performance Dashboards: | | | | - Indicators can be used to show if a metric is within |
| It is important to define your dashboard's objectives | | | | an acceptable or unacceptable level or condition. |
| before entering the design phase. Generally speaking, | | | | - Heat maps are useful for displaying trends. |
| a good performance dashboard: | | | | - Geographical maps can help to identify regional |
| - Displays relevant information and key performance | | | | performance differences. They also serve as a trigger |
| indicators (KPIs) in a logical, concise manner. | | | | when viewing subsets of data. For example, clicking on |
| - Serves as an aid when analyzing company data. | | | | a state within a map of the United States can result in |
| - Facilitates intelligent decisions based on the visualized | | | | the display of data for that given state. |
| data. | | | | Dashboard Design and Layout: |
| Dashboard Metrics: | | | | The first rule is to use white space. White space tends |
| One of the most important aspects of good | | | | to accentuate the visualization components that really |
| dashboard design is determining what metrics the | | | | matter to the end user. |
| dashboard should display. This should be decided well | | | | Another rule is that a performance dashboard with too |
| before any actual design occurs and should also | | | | many visualization elements takes away from the |
| involve all participants such as business executives, | | | | overall purpose by confusing the end user with too |
| analysts, designers and project managers. | | | | many visual cues. Remember, performance |
| One mistake is trying to squeeze too many metrics | | | | dashboards should help users to quickly identify trends |
| into one dashboard. This could result in a cluttered | | | | in data, thereby leading to intelligent decision making! |
| visualization that ends up confusing the end user, | | | | Other helpful design and layout tips are: |
| instead of helping to make intelligent decisions. | | | | - Determine the colors you want to use and start by |
| A good rule of thumb is to display only those metrics | | | | selecting a color palette. You may also want to utilize |
| related to one another. The metrics should also have | | | | corporate/organizational colors. |
| an analytical purpose. Avoid throwing in metrics that | | | | - Use neutral colors such as pastels and light tones of |
| look "cool" but actually do little to effectively visualize | | | | gray for dashboard and control backgrounds. |
| your data! | | | | - Clearly delineate major dashboard sections. Try using |
| Data Visualization Controls: | | | | frames that have appropriate headings when grouping |
| The following lists common visualization controls and | | | | visualization controls. |
| describes their usage: | | | | - Pay close attention to the alignment of visualization |
| - Charts are a great way to display trends in your | | | | controls. |
| data. Bar and column charts display data for given | | | | - Make sure that all chart axes have relevant titles, |
| time or date increments (e.g., monthly or weekly). Line | | | | with tick marks that are labeled in an appropriate |
| charts (which can overlay column charts) display | | | | manner (end users should be able to quickly tell what |
| upward and downward trends along a continuous time | | | | values the tick marks represent). |