Get startedGet started for free

Dashboard checklist

1. Dashboard checklist

What is a well-designed dashboard?

2. Dashboard design constructs

Each dashboard is unique because it is specific to a project's requirements, the developer's design, and users' needs.

3. Dashboard design units

During the first stage of development, the questions are concentrated on project goals, the selection of performance metrics based on the goals, and the alignment of metrics with the user's needs.

4. Dashboard design units

In the second stage, the questions are focused on the nature of data and the selection of visual components that would create meaningful insights for the user.

5. Dashboard design units

In the last stage, the questions are concentrated on how and where the dashboard must be incorporated, how to make it accessible to the intended audience, and what type of training is needed for users.

6. Dashboard design assessment checklist

Because all dashboards are unique, we need a set of generic assessment tests to check the dashboard quality. The practicality test focuses on whether the dashboard serves its purpose.

7. Dashboard design assessment checklist

The data relevance test checks if we have the right data for the intended audience.

8. Dashboard design assessment checklist

The visual correctness test checks if we chose the correct graphics and followed the best practices of data visualization design.

9. Dashboard design assessment checklist

he intuitiveness test includes dashboard accessibility, user-friendliness for non-technical users, clarity, and consistency.

10. Dashboard design assessment checklist

The dashboard adoption test includes dashboard usage and user adoption metrics.

11. Know your dashboard type

First, check your dashboard type and its intended use. The strategic type displays high-level metrics and a small number of plots. The tactical dashboard is related to metrics for a single area of business. The analytical dashboard displays enterprise-wide metrics for in-depth analysis. The operational dashboard displays granular metrics related to a particular business task.

12. Know your audience

Second, build the dashboard with the right audience in mind. With internal stakeholders, you can use the company's acronyms and provide less context.

13. Know your audience

An external stakeholder requires more context and fewer acronyms.

14. Know your audience

If the user is familiar with functionalities, more interactivity could be provided.

15. Know your audience

For a quick-glancing user, highlight the insights with indicators and use fewer charts.

16. Know your audience

For a long-lingering user, provide more charts and interactive options.

17. Design your dashboard with a narrative in mind

Design your story in a consistent and logical way, using the inverted pyramid concept: the important information comes first.

18. Design your dashboard with a narrative in mind

then supporting data with important details,

19. Design your dashboard with a narrative in mind

and finally more general information.

20. Design your dashboard with a narrative in mind

So keep the most significant and high-level insights at the top, similar to headlines in news.

21. Design your dashboard with a narrative in mind

Then, provide some context to these insights, such as trends, which are similar to the subheading.

22. Design your dashboard with a narrative in mind

And lastly, present general more detailed data, similar to the body of a news story.

23. Reduce cognitive load

Check if the dashboard is easy to understand. Use the 5-second rule. The 5-second rule helps you practice presenting the most important data in only five seconds.

24. Reduce cognitive load

Check for accessibility: use easy-to-read fonts, choose a color-blind palette, and contrast.

25. Reduce cognitive load

Check for consistency: use the same layout style with colors, fonts, and design elements.

26. Reduce cognitive load

Check for clarity: provide visual clues, labels, context, and icons.

27. Additional thoughts

Develop your own personal checklist and learn more about the best practices for communicating insights and storytelling.

28. Let's practice!

Let's practice the dashboard checklist!