Dashboards that WOW

The one question that keeps popping up is what turns a good dashboard into a great dashboard? Sadly I don’t have a clear-cut answer. I do, however, believe that there are a few simple rules one should always keep in mind when designing a dashboard, rules that will go a long way towards ensuring that your dashboard delivers what it was meant to.

The first and most important factor determining the success of any dashboard is the visual interface of the dashboard – what can you do and see on the dashboard? Deciding on the layout of the dashboard is probably one of the biggest challenges facing Dashboard developers. Not only do you need to have a good understanding of the business, you also need to be extremely creative. Sadly, these skills don’t always mix well and you end up with a dashboard that’s cluttered with meaningless gadgets and far too much information. Think of the dashboard as a movie-trailer where you only have two minutes to get your message across and entice your audience to see more. The following guidelines should help you to achieving this:

Your first priority should always be the Message – It is a proven fact that newspapers sell because they contain information their readers need each day, not because they include free samples and pretty pictures. In the same way the main focus of any dashboard should be the information the business needs every day rather than lots of flash and pretty pictures.

Less is More - A golden rule when designing a great dashboard is to keep the number of measures to a minimum - six to eight per screen is more than enough. The average person has difficulty absorbing more than six distinct things / facts at a time. If you have too many metrics on your dashboard, the message will become blurred. Always try and keep your dashboard to a single screen, but where it is physically impossible limit the number of facts on your dashboard by grouping them together in folders using tabs. Alternatively nest related metrics together under a lead metric, creating a natural flow from one screen to the next. (drill down effect)

Keep it simple – It’s ironic that the same fancy “glitz” that vendors use to sell their dashboard technology is usually the same thing that starts to irritate you when you actually start using the dashboard. When designing a dashboard start simple and let your dashboard “evolve” over time.

Go slow on the Graphics – I’ve seen dashboards which included gauges, thermometers, stoplights, graphs and just for fun a few animated pictures? The chance of those dashboards getting any kind of message across (besides look at all the funky graphics) is very slim. This problem has especially been exaggerated by the various software vendors trying to out-gizmo each other in the number of “gadgets” they offer in their dashboard solutions. Before using graphics ask yourself:

o Will the graphic fit any size space and still look good?

o Does the graphic reinforce the message?

o Does the graphic help you display measurement, context and state?

You’ll soon notice that radial gauges and most of the other “gadgets” are pretty useless for getting your message across.

Choose your Colour – Without colour, your dashboard will lack personality. On the other hand, too much colour, or erratic colour, will make you dashboard look hyperactive and confusing. Colour can be used to identify, group or differentiate key aspects of the dashboard and create a sense of harmony between the different components. Always use colours that go well together and keep in mind that some people (mostly males) are colour blind to extent and find it difficult to distinguish between red and green.

Finally using varying shades of complimentary colours helps ensure all parts of the dashboard get the same attention, rather than focusing on only one area with the most eye-catching colour.

Location, Location – The final piece of this puzzle is position. Always keep in mind that the way you position and sequence objects on your dashboard reinforce their meaning or importance. Position and placement is yet another powerful way of communicating and can greatly enhance the value of your dashboard.

The most dominant position on your dashboard is the top left quadrant, followed by the upper right and bottom left. The least dominant space on any dashboard is always the bottom right quadrant.

Well, this is all from my side for now. I hope you’ve found the tips in this article useful and remember that your comments and input is always welcome.