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When I started my carrier as a Data Analyst, I started researching a lot about Dashboards. This gave me information to create a dashboard in terms of the corporate perspective. So there my analysis began in creating a dashboard as per the following steps.
Step 1: Order by Importance
The order should be from ,
Top to bottom and left to right.
Navigation on the right and logos on the left.
Most importantly aggregates are shown on the top .
Consolidated headers(KPI) are very important information from the point of view of stakeholders which is very effective in the dashboard.
Legends that are supportive to the sheets are kept close to it.
Finally, less important things are at the bottom
Step 2: Font Size
Only one type of font is followed in the entire dashboard.
Font size Limits:
The entire font size limits suggested by Tableau public is as follows,
Dashboard Title | Size 22-28 |
Worksheet Title | Size 11-14 |
Chart Headers | Size 9- 10 |
Additional Text | Size 8-10 |
Note:
Bold text and legible font size can be used as per the requirements.
Step 3: color consistency
The key factors for a successful dashboard,
Managing color choices
The primary color(s) that make up most of your design should be a neutral color. Using techniques like grayscale, maximize the possibility for contrast and visibility of your data driven points.
Use one or two dominant colors.
Choose Brand colors from custom color palettes.
Step 4 : Adjust padding and white space
Padding is very important in creating a dashboard.
1.OUTER PADDING: Adds space outside of the worksheet border.
2.INNER PADDING: Adds space inside of the worksheet border.
Padding can be used to move content away from the borders of a screen to make it attractive, readable, and user-friendly.
White space or blanks are used between the sheets which give some directional images in the dashboard ,adding more information to the stakeholder.
Same background colors are followed in group charts.
Step 5 : Clear the clutter
When a sheet is presented ,labels should be under marks and excluding the axis avoids confusion among stakeholders.
Headers are placed as per the requirements.
Avoiding grid lines will add more clarity to the visualization.
Icons can be included or excluded as required.
Step 6 : Leverage containers
Containers are packages of software that contain all of the necessary elements to run in any environment.
Tableau offers three main types of layout containers: horizontal, vertical, and tiled.
Create show/hide buttons are used to select options, for example filter or detail an icon.
Recently tableau introduced one option i.e. Dynamic zone visibility.
Step 7 : Apply interactivity Effectively
Interactivity in dashboards allows users to have control over the data they want to view and analyze. They can choose visuals or elements they want to see on the dashboard, customize the display according to their preferences, and focus on specific aspects of the data that are most relevant to their needs. We need to verify dashboard actions that are not competing with one another.
Step 8 : consider Navigation Methods:
The Tableau Navigation features offer users the ability to seamlessly move from one dashboard to another dashboard, sheet, or story.
We need to create one landing page so we can easily shift from one dashboard to another by using the navigation option. Naming the tabs clearly makes us navigate easily.
Step 9 : Build Trust in the Data
While creating a dashboard ,a download option is given to the stakeholders to verify the data being used on correct fields in creating the worksheet.
Data refresh cadence is shown for every dashboard.
Step 10 : Save Time and Templatize
We can save or reduce the amount of time you spend on formatting, layout, design, and content creation. We can use templates that match the stakeholders. branding, style, and standards, and simply fill in the relevant information for each document or process.
I would also like to quote,
“A well designed dashboard is a reflection of a good visualization.”