Layout
Start with a simple grid so people can scan from left‑to‑right and top‑to‑bottom without hunting for what matters.
- Place core KPIs along the top row
- Group related charts into clear sections
- Leave breathing room; avoid over‑packing tiles
Dashboard best practices
Design dashboards that are readable, actionable, and consistent with your metric definitions.
Color & typography
Use color to encode meaning, not decoration. Let numbers be legible at a glance on any screen.
- Use a small palette for status (e.g., green / amber / red)
- Reserve bright colors for deltas and alerts
- Ensure text and axis labels meet contrast guidelines
Filters & interactions
Make it obvious how people can change the view, and keep interactions consistent across dashboards.
- Expose a small set of high‑value filters
- Provide drill‑downs from summary tiles into detail views
- Use the same filter names and behavior everywhere
Checklist before you share a dashboard
A quick set of questions to keep dashboards focused and trustworthy.
Clarity
Will a new stakeholder understand what they are looking at within 10 seconds?
- Does the title state the purpose of the dashboard?
- Are metrics labeled with clear definitions and time ranges?
Trust
Can people trace a number back to its source and owner?
- Do key metrics come from your governed semantic layer?
- Is there an obvious place to see when data was last refreshed?
Actionability
Does the dashboard suggest what to do next when something looks off?
- Are there thresholds or targets for key KPIs?
- Can users click through to the detail needed to take action?
Apply best practices to your KPIs
We’ll help design a dashboard tailored to your stakeholders.