Laura Kukula provides a comprehensive guide to designing effective dashboards for businesses. It outlines nine key principles for creating dashboards that are clear, informative, and actionable.
The first principle is to decide what the dashboard is meant to achieve—whether rallying a team around a goal, spotting problems faster, or increasing transparency. The second principle is to include only the most essential metrics and KPIs, avoiding the temptation to cram in every piece of data.
The third principle is to use size and position to highlight the most important information, placing the top metric in the top left corner. The fourth principle is to provide context for the numbers by including past data, averages, or target goals.
The fifth principle is grouping related metrics together. The sixth is maintaining a consistent look and feel across the dashboard, using a limited color palette and chart types. The seventh principle is clear labeling, ensuring all information is easily understood.
The eighth principle is to round numbers rather than display excessive decimal places, which can be distracting. Finally, the ninth principle is to continually evolve the dashboard based on user feedback and changing business needs.
Overall, Kukula provides a practical and insightful guide for businesses looking to create dashboards that drive better decision-making and performance.
