Dashboard Design

Question 1

Dashboards: definition

Answer 1

A visual display of the most important information needed to achieve one or more objectives that has been consolidated on a single computer screen so it can be monitored and understood at a glance

Question 2

The monitoring process

Answer 2

1. Scan the big picture
2. Zoom in on important specifics
3. Link to supporting details

Question 3

Dashboard design challenges

Answer 3

• How to make the most important data stand out from the rest?
• How to arrange a great deal of disparate information in a way that makes sense, gives it meaning, and supports its efficient perception?

Question 4

5 Characteristics of a good dashboard

Answer 4

• Simplicity
• Include only crucial information for monitoring
• Learn to use the right media of display
• Emphasis on data pixels
• Eliminate all unnecessary nondata pixels

Question 5

Non-data pixels

Answer 5

Super-hero images in a super-hero related graph

• Only helps the perception of data (e.g., axis in a graphic)
• Can be used to embellish the interface

Question 6

13 Common pitfalls in dashboard design

Answer 6

• Exceeding the boundaries of a single screen
• Supplying inadequate context for the data
• Displaying excessive detail or precision
• Expressing measures indirectly
• Choosing inappropriate media of display
• Introducing meaningless variety
• Using poorly designed display media
• Encoding quantitative data inaccurately
• Arranging the data poorly
• Ineffectively highlighting what’s important
• Cluttering the screen with useless decoration
• Misusing or overusing color
• Designing an unappealing visual display

Question 7

5 uses of color

Answer 7

Sequential - Ordered from low to high

Diverging - Two sequential colors with a neutral midpoint

Categorical - Contrasting colors for individual comparison

Highlight - Color used to highlight something

Warning - Color used to alert readers

Question 8

Dashboard layouts

Answer 8

• Most important information should be on the left-hand side
• Filters need to be easily discovered for new or infrequent users – usability issues
• Filters on the right works well for a team that knows
  the data and the dashboard