Before you start designing a dashboard there are a few questions you should ask yourself,
Who is the audience I’m designing this for?
How will I want my data to be read?
What are the Key parameters worth mentioning?
What purpose does my dashboard serve?
Also Read: The Best And Worst Ways To Create A Dashboard : Tips & Guide To Avoid Mistakes
Once you figure out the answer to these, it will gradually become clear to you how you want to picture your dashboard. Below given are a set of key elements one should consider for building an effective dashboard.
- The first and foremost point one should keep in mind while building a dashboard is the arrangement of data. It is advised to arrange the data in a hierarchical order, so as to avoid the confusion and keep the main and important points at the top. This method of arrangement of data is also known as the inverted pyramid.
- The dashboard created must have data that is understandable within seconds. If it takes longer for the viewer to search the data, the dashboard’s visual data isn’t up to the point. It should always be designed in a way that the information the viewer search for pops up right before them.
- Visual-clutter is to be avoided. If you’ve heard the quote “less is more”, this is somewhere you can put it in use. The less the pictures and diagrams, the more clear the data becomes. The overuse of charts and images can shadow the information conveyed.
- The right data visualization method should be used. Sure, charts are a better way to convey data than a tabular column, but according to the type of information we are dealing with, the right type of charts should be used to display data.
- When adding data into the database, it is best to only add the important key parameters that are of relevance. In any organization, there will be of course too many parameters available, but if we display each and every KPI, it will fill out the entire space in the database and hide the important ones. Always keep in mind that less is more and add just what is required.
- The data in the dashboard must be updated regularly. May it be real-time, monthly or weekly data that is displayed, make sure that it is current.
- All business needs differ. Some enterprises have different KPIs, groups, process, management levels, etc. Hence, it is important that a dashboard has a feature that allows its customers to customize its design as per their needs. This makes it more user-friendly and popular among different sectors.
- A dashboard is like a blank painting canvas that needs no interpretation and gives the viewer the information represented there in a single glance. That should be the effectiveness a dashboard must display. Keep all these key points in mind while creating a dashboard for a simpler and standardized design.
