How to design and build a great dashboard

Follow this checklist to help you achieve the results you’re looking for to design a dashboard that clearly communicates your business key goals and metrics.

• Be clear about what you're trying to achieve – your dashboard’s purpose will inform its design.

• Only include what’s important – everything should support your dashboard’s intent.

• Consider data ink ratio – avoid decorative elements that don’t communicate data. That means removing unnecessary grid lines, icons, color, labels, or anything else that doesn’t actually help better understand or communicate data.

• Round your numbers – being overly precise can get in the way of important changes.

• Use the most efficient visualization – a good visualization should be understood quickly.

• Be consistent – using the same visualizations and layouts makes comparing easier.

• Group your related metrics – make your metrics easy to find.

• Use size and position to show hierarchy – make it clear to the viewer what’s most important.

• Give your numbers context – help your viewers know if a number is good, bad, normal or unusual.

• Use clear labels for your audience – keep them short and self explanatory.

• Remember it’s for people – it’s ok to break the rules if it increases engagement.

• Keep evolving your dashboards – check that your dashboard is encouraging the right behavior in your target audience.