Dashboard Design Best Practices: Speaker: Dan Bulos

Dashboard Design Best Practices
Speaker: Dan Bulos
Symmetry Corporation
July 2012
Best Practices in
Dashboard Design
Dan Bulos bulos@symcorp.com

2012 Symmetry Corporation
http://www.symcorp.com
Agenda
What is a Dashboard?
Dashboard Best Practices
Dashboard Components
Navigation
Metaphors Go Only So Far

Monitors a
Continuous
Process
At a
Glance
Gauge
Oriented
Reporting Spectrum
Managed
P
r
o
d
u
c
t
i
o
n
Dashboards
Analysis
Tables, Crosstabs, Charts, Graphs
Customization
& Distribution
Alternatives
Parameter
Driven
Ease of
Development
& Usage
Paramount
Highly
Formatted
Guided Analytics
Programmer
Developed
Line
Developed
Depth &
Quickness
of Analytics
Interactive
Navigation
Advanced
Visualization
Staff
Developed
D
i
s
c
o
v
e
r
y
Dashboard Definition
Visual Display
of the
most important information

needed to achieve one or more
objectives
which fits entirely on a
single computer screen

so it can be
monitored at a glance
Information Dashboard Design
By Stephen Few
What Makes a Good Dashboard

Some are Better
Than Others
Dashboard - Best Practices

Key
Data/Metrics
In Context
Dense
Information
Not
Cluttered
Access to
Supporting
Details
Single
Page
Graphically
Oriented
Zero
Learning
Curve
Highlight
Exceptions
General Design Considerations

Single Page
No Scrolling
Nothing Hidden
Linked Content
All Relevant Info

One Place to Look
Not Data Driven
Better
Dashboard
Design
Disparate Data
Graphical
Displays Patterns
Abstract Data
Minimal Grids
Domain Aware
Leverages
Knowledge
Guided Analytics
Key Data/Metrics in Context

Key Data/Metrics
High level performance metrics
Generally tied to goals and bonuses
Focus on actionable data
Disparate sources
Context
The 3Ts = Target, Trend, Typical
Similar/Related Data/Metrics
Basis for interpretation
Dense, not Cluttered

Dense Information
All relevant data/metrics
Different perspectives
Not Cluttered At a Glance
It is not how much, but how well
Easy to view, not an eye chart
Data-Ink Ratio (
)
Non-essential ink should be removed
Supporting ink (axis lines) = low visual impact
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Edward R. Tufte
Zero Learning Curve

Dashboard viewing is not a persons job
Oriented at casual users, line mgt, & execs
Little/No accumulated experience
Each viewing is the first time
Dashboards are not analytical tools

But they provide guided analytics
Targeted to a Person/Role/Problem Set
Exception Oriented
Outliers should POP out
Highlight Both
Problems
Opportunities
What is an Exception?
> 1 Std Dev, 2. Five9s
When action needs be taken
Visual Cues
Color
Size
Shape
Boldness
Position
Icons
Supporting Detail
Dashboards are not an
end unto themselves
Guided
Analytics
Contextual
Content Updates
Links to
New Pages
Root Cause
Analysis
Associated
Layers
Update
Dashboard
Webparts
Hierarchical
Drill-Down
Ad Hoc Analysis
Detail Reports
Dashboard Components
Scorecards
Diagrams
Charts
Grids
Maps
Gauges
Tree Map
Decomp Tree
And So
Much More
First a Word on Color

Use Color Sparingly Generally Soft Colors
Highlighting Bold Colors
Different Colors = Different Meaning
Try shades of grey
Use a Single Hue
Increase the intensity for low to high values
Remember - 7% of men are color blind
A dashboard is not a painting
Usefulness is Paramount
Grids
When to use:
Values are familiar
Need to lookup a value
Small differences are important
Mixed units of measure
Design Considerations
Try to keep square-ish
Comparisons are done by column
Limit length with Top/Bottom
Grid Embellishments
Highlights
Items of interest
Data Bars
Helpful to read magnitude
Color Scales/Icons
Can overwhelm the data
Arrows
Used for change over time
Icons
are best used to:
Replace
data to save space
Show
variance or score
Scorecards
Are a special type of grid
Created for KPIs and Objectives
Can be methodology oriented
Balanced Scorecard, 6 Sigma,
Used as a navigation aid
A list with data
Scorecards
are less about data
and more about process
Basic Charts
Lines Charts Time Series oriented
Highlights trend, patterns or variability
Highlights relationships between series
Trend lines & projections can be added
Bar Chart Comparison Oriented
Categorical comparisons within a dimension
Nominal comparisons across data (sales to cost)
Pie Charts Part to Whole
Only works with small sets
Hard to visually quantify
A lot of space for not much data
Interlude: Form vs. Function

If the dashboard is not
visually appealing,
people will not go to it
If the dashboard is not
effective and practical,
people will not use it
1 Page 6#s
Pretty Yes! Useful?
What is fun
the first time
Might be boring
the 100th time
Too Dense?
Bar Charts
Horizontal
Long labels
Pattern comparisons
Long-ish lists
Vertical
Groups with in groups
Stacked and 100% Bars
Pareto Charts
Doesnt work for large numbers of groups
Bars are easily drilled into
Hybrids Charts in Grids
Great
Data-Ink
Ratio
Effective
Mixing Of
Charts &
Values
Introduction of
Sparklines & Bullet Graphs
Bullet Graphs
A bullet graph is a variation of a bar
graph developed by Stephen Few.
Seemingly inspired by the traditional
thermometer charts and progress bars
found in many dashboards, the bullet
graph serves as a replacement for
dashboard gauges and meters
Symmetrys
Variation
Sales
Costs
Black Bar = Value
Green/Red Bar = Target
Blue Pointer = Last Year
Maps
Useful in
showing regional
components
Maps are great for
demographics
Maps are highly specialized
Be careful of charts
within a map
Impact grids
can be effective
Gauges
Hard to set gauge scale

for the general case
When using a set of

gauges expected value
should be straight up
Best for continuous process

Poor Data-Ink Ratio
Diagrams
Process Diagram
Balanced
Scorecard
Strategy Map
Diagrams are
underutilized
Graphical Representations
Impact Diagram
Root Cause/Fishbone Diagram

Graphical Excellence
Show the data
Focus on the substance of the numbers
Dont distort the data
Present many numbers in a small space
Encourage comparisons
Show data in several perspectives
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Edward R. Tufte
Screen Layout
Number of Frames
Up to 4 is good, no more than 6
Frame Proportions
Size = implied importance
Uniform otherwise
Location
Top left = primary focus
Bottom right = supporting detail
Off page = irrelevant
Printing
The dirty little secret
Frame Options
Different frame on same page
Must fit on the page
Can drill from here to new page
New page in same browser
Easy to get back
Full page available
New browser tab/window
Allows for comparisons
Users must close windows/tabs
Navigation Framework
A tiered set of dashboards
based on role or function
A set of grids, graphs, or

visualizations that examine
a single metric
A set of detailed reports or

ad-hoc analytics
Navigation
Identify the key dimensions for the metric
Customer, product, department
Drill into one or more of these
Top 10 rankings
Identify the audience
Marketing manager Drill to product
Sales Manager Drill to customer
Navigation - What to Show
Microsoft Software Components

Reporting Services
Formal report view
Highly formatted
Performance Point Server
Analytical Charts and Graphs
Less control over format
Built in Slice and Dice
Excel Services
Shared user-created content
Fast changing
Summary
Choose the right tool for the job
Simple is better
Conserve your screen real estate
Use color to highlight
Put focus on the data not the decoration
Symmetry
Founded in 1986
Experienced Consultants
Each with over 15 years of BI experience
Microsoft Relationship
Gold Certified Partner
Microsoft-nominated BI Partner Advisory

Council member since 1999
Licensed Technology to Microsoft

SQL Server Accelerator for BI
Internal Microsoft Consulting
SQL Server
PerformancePoint Server
Internal departmental BI application development
Resources
Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten
Stephen Few
Information Dashboard Design: The Effective Visual
Communication of Data
Stephen Few
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd edition
Edward R. Tufte
http://www.perceptualedge.com/
http://dashboardspy.com/
Symmetry Corp www.symcorp.com
To learn more or attend a meeting: www.bayareamicrosoftbi.org

To inquire about sponsorship or speaking opportunities:
Mark Ginnebaugh, User Group Leader mark@designmind.com

Dashboard Design Best Practices: Speaker: Dan Bulos

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Dashboard Design Best Practices

Speaker: Dan Bulos

Dan Bulos bulos@symcorp.com

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Metaphors Go Only So Far

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Tables, Crosstabs, Charts, Graphs

2012 Symmetry Corporation

most important information

single computer screen

What Makes a Good Dashboard

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Dashboard - Best Practices

2012 Symmetry Corporation

General Design Considerations

All Relevant Info

Key Data/Metrics in Context

Dense, not Cluttered

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Zero Learning Curve

Each viewing is the first time

Dashboards are not analytical tools

2012 Symmetry Corporation

2012 Symmetry Corporation

First a Word on Color

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Interlude: Form vs. Function

Pretty Yes! Useful?

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Hybrids Charts in Grids

2012 Symmetry Corporation

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Maps are highly specialized

Hard to set gauge scale

When using a set of

Best for continuous process

Root Cause/Fishbone Diagram

A set of grids, graphs, or

A set of detailed reports or

Navigation - What to Show

2012 Symmetry Corporation

Microsoft Software Components

Gold Certified Partner

Microsoft-nominated BI Partner Advisory

Licensed Technology to Microsoft

Internal Microsoft Consulting

2012 Symmetry Corporation

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd edition

To learn more or attend a meeting: www.bayareamicrosoftbi.org

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