Storytelling with Data - Overview of Dashboards
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A dashboard is a visual display of the most important information needed to achieve objectives, consolidated and arranged on a single screen for monitoring at a glance. Dashboards present information using small, concise, direct displays tailored to the needs of a specific group. Dashboards have a consistent layout while allowing data to change over time. Not all dashboards are effective - some prioritize flashy features over actionable information. Effective dashboards follow design principles like utilizing space efficiently and accounting for how people naturally scan information using an F-pattern.
Storytelling with Data - Overview of Dashboards
- 1. What is a dashboard?
- 2. A dashboard is a visual display of the most important information needed to achieve one or more objectives; consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be monitored at a glance. - Stephen Few (2004) From “Dashboard Confusion” in Intelligent Enterprise magazine, March 20, 2004 Common definition of a dashboard.
- 3. An information display designed for people to help maintain situational awareness. Source: The Big Book of Dashboards (BigBookofDashboards.com) Another way to think about dashboards.
- 4. • Information is presented using small, concise, direct, & clear display of media • Clearly stated messages • Each point should be limited to the space needed • Customized • tailored to the needs of a specific group or individual • Consistent Layout • Data changes over time • Interface is consistent (until it’s time for the next revision) Few, Stephen (2013), Information Dashboard Design, p. 28 Tableau dashboards have several common attributes.
- 5. Source: “blinged dashboard” from http://robslink.com/SAS/democd36/oil_blinged.htm Not all dashboards are created equally.
- 6. • Some of the widgets and displays provided by tool vendors (thankfully, not Tableau) are glitzy but unhelpful – like these: • Require a disproportionate amount of room for information presented • Hard to read and understand with little actionable information Avoid useless features that are available in some dashboards.
- 7. Dashboard – High Effectiveness Source: Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few
- 8. One gauge takes the same space that can accommodate twenty data points in this dashboard design. Source: Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few
- 9. Red indicates more visual attention on that portion of the page Source: http://styleguide.yahoo.com/writing/write-web/eye-tracking-where-do-readers-look-first Even great visuals can be overlooked.
- 10. Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html The “F-Pattern” is the common way people approach digital/printed communication.
- 11. Dominance of the neutral quadrants may change based on content. Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html Most emphasis Neutral Neutral Least emphasis The location of our visuals should reflect our emphasis.
- 12. Dominance of the neutral quadrants may change based on content. Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html Most emphasis Neutral Neutral Least emphasis The F-pattern is very relevant when designing dashboards.
- 13. Sales Team Dashboard Source: Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few
- 14. Sales Team Dashboard Most emphasis Neutral Neutral Least emphasis Source: Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few
Editor's Notes
- #3: Stephen Few’s definition of a dashboard is very specific. He does not believe that something interactive or exploratory is by definition a dashboard.
- #6: We learned in module 1 how the mind perceives information. Gradient colors and background colors can affect the way we perceive color. 3D effects can hide or even distort the data. Simple changes can have a dramatic impact.
- #8: Compare to the CIO dashboard from Information Dashboard Design by Stephen Few.
- #9: The gauges, which are often very large on dashboards, take up a large portion of the dashboard for a single KPI. We can build dashboards that are much more effective without the use of these glitzy tools.
- #14: This is a sales team dashboard from Stephen Few’s book, Information Dashboard Design. Let’s see how it does with the emphasis guidelines.
- #15: It’s not a perfect quadrant, but it works pretty well. The most important information about overall rep performance is in the top left quadrant.