Published in · 7 min read · Aug 8, 2024
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What is a dashboard?
Dashboard is a tool that allows you to display all of your most important data in one place. This information management tool retrieves data from a related database to provide data visualization. In many cases, a dashboard is customizable and can be configured to conveniently present specific data. It can includes images, graphs, tables, numbers, and other information.
Why dashboards are crucial for applications
Dashboards are often used in applications for tracking work progress (task status, budget, productivity rate), machine and analytics metrics (temperature, vibration, critical cases), or for bank accounts (tracking transfers, the amount of money on different cards, etc.). A dashboard is quite versatile. When present, the user can concentrate on specific things and increase their productivity. The dashboard should contain the most crucial components for the user to be effective and useful.
I am writing this article mainly for UI/UX designers and product managers, but also for those who are considering adding a dashboard to their product and want to understand the main key points of it.
Types of Dashboards
There are quite a few types of dashboards (Operational, Analytical, Strategic, IT, Tactical, Marketing, etc.), but we will focus on the main ones: Operational, Analytical, and Strategic.
- Operational : The most typical dashboard model, serving as the command center for managing operations. It helps the user stay informed, provides task management tools, allows monitoring processes, and notifies about certain problems.*
- Analytical: This tool analyzes complex data using AI or machine learning. It studies data to find trends, patterns, and reasonable strategies, helping the user make informed decisions.*
- Strategic : A general dashboard that provides information for high-level strategic development planning and offers a comprehensive understanding of how things are going in the company.*
Which type of dashboard to choose for your project is a decision you need to make based on your specific needs. Once chosen, you can start designing the product accordingly.
User-Centric Design
First of all, you need to understand who you are making the app for. You need to start with the users and their needs. The app can provide a lot of data, but you should focus on the data that the user will need on a daily basis.
It is always a good idea to conduct a general-purpose study between of similar products on the market, create your own widgets for the dashboard with the data your app can offer, and then conduct user interviews. In general, interviews or user testing are always beneficial at any stage of development. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches yield results. This can be a regular design presentation with questions or an A/B test with tracking.
The dashboard is a collection of all the data that the application has, so it is worth designing it at the end, as it can save a lot of time. It is difficult to decide what to present in the dashboard if you do not know what information you can provide to the user, so it is worth considering this when designing.
Clarity and Simplicity
Avoid overwhelming the dashboard with too much data representation. Do not add too many different charts, maps, tables, and graphs. A cluttered dashboard can confuse the user and prevent them from focusing on important things.
Consistency
When designing a dashboard, it is important to consider the peculiarities of human perception of information. We have special mechanisms for grouping interrelated things, so it is worth considering this and not forgetting about the Gestalt principles in design. Particular attention should be paid to the composition of the dashboard, symmetry and similarity. Similarity can be achieved using basic elements such as shapes, colors, and size, which will help the user read information easier and faster.
Actionable Insights
Our dashboard should not only be a beautiful presentation of the status of certain tasks and indicators, but also a working tool that provides data leading to action. Ideally, each widget should direct the user to a specific section in the application where they can delve deeper into the data. The dashboard should serve as a base screen from which the user’s paths diverge into different application branches. Therefore, having a customizable dashboard that each user can edit is important for maximizing effectiveness and usefulness.
The standard structure of a dashboard is based on several components : header, navigation, main area and footer.
The header should consist of the widget name. Navigation — tabs, menus, or other navigational elements. Navigation can be included in the header, or in the main area, since this can save space. Main Area includes core components displaying various data points. Footer — optional, but can include additional information, links, or less critical data.
Ensure that all widgets in the dashboard are in the same style and support the overall branding of the application. Widgets that are the main ones should be dominant, so they will be the first to catch the eye. In fact, color coding in the data display is an integral factor in the presentation of information, since it allows us to sort it faster. But do not add too many colors, so as not to overdo it with them and not confuse the user with their meanings. Always remember:
“Less is more” — Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Charts and Graphs:
Choosing the right data representation is one of the most critical aspects of creating a dashboard and one of the most common sources of errors. Choosing the wrong visual representation can cause misunderstandings among users.
The data in the dashboard should be displayed clearly and readably. If it is a chart, it should be easy and quick to understand. Different graph types for each data type help users find the necessary metrics faster.
Tips:
- Vertical and horizontal bar charts should be sorted by the largest value (or at least have the option to sort by the largest reading).
- Avoid displaying more than five values in a line chart and more than seven values in a bar chart.
- For time representation in charts, always use the X-axis, as time flows from left to right in diagrams.
Charts types
Bar Charts: Comparing categories.
Line Charts: Showing trends over time.
Pie Charts: Displaying parts of a whole.
Scatter Plots: Identifying relationships between variables.
Heat Maps: Visualizing data density and patterns.
Gauge Charts: Representing performance metrics.
These are the most popular chart types and their typical representations. It is up to you to decide which charts to use in your application. However, for complex applications (such as those for factory employees or finance brokers), consult users and experts in the specific field regarding chart choices.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness is important for a dashboard as for any other tool. Understand which screens will display the dashboard and how you want to present widgets on them. Some information can be hidden when transitioning the dashboard to a mobile device to save screen space. Always consider responsiveness from the initial stages to save effort and energy in the future.
Dashboards are indispensable tools used in modern applications that offer centralized, customizable means of visualizing important data. They can be used in many different cases, and when properly identified, the best dashboard for a given set of requirements can be simplified by understanding the three main types of dashboards: operational, analytical, and strategic.
A well-chosen dashboard improves the efficiency and productivity of the user and the company, as it provides a clearer understanding of the overall state of affairs. It is always important to remember the correct structure of the dashboard, the use of colors and graphs, and adding responsiveness to achieve the best visual effect and usability.
By following these principles, designers and product managers can create dashboards that are both functional and impactful.
Chart Libraries:
D3.js, Chart.js, Highcharts
Chart Exaples:
DataVizProject, Charts UI Kit Figma
Dashboard Widgets:
Bento Box in Figma Tutorial
Articles:
10 Rules for Better Dashboard Design, How to design and build a great dashboard, Top 10 Principles of Dashboards Design 2023, Dashboard Design: Considerations and Best Practices
Courses: Information Visualization — IDF course, The Practical Guide to Usability — IDF course
