Defining and using consistent dashboard visualization Patterns will improve User understanding and engagement. What do I mean by Patterns? Simply put, Patterns are the layout (type and placement of widgets) on your dashboards. Why do layout Patterns matter? Consistent placement, types and sizing of widgets will help your users orient themselves more quickly when they open a dashboard. As a result, they are more at ease and more likely to stay engaged with your dashboards.
There are no absolute rules for dashboard design patterns, but here are a few concepts that I have found to be helpful:
Develop a few different layout patterns and use them repeatedly unless there is a strong reason to do otherwise.
Use indicators at the top of the dashboard to show summary data if appropriate.
Show your detail data in the appropriate widget type below the indicators. Widget type selection is not in the scope of this post. There are many resources available online to help you with this. One I like that Sisense also recommends is by Dr. Andrew Abela.
Use colors consistently across your dashboards. See my post on using Sisense Color Palettes for more information.
You should also strive for consistency (one or several Patterns) in your dashboard filters. Present the same filters in the same order when practical. With consistent filter choices your users will know what to expect when they open the dashboard and how to use the filters presented.
It is worthwhile to consider Dependent vs. Independent filters when establishing your filter patterns. Dependent filters have the advantage of only showing selections that are valid for the parent filters choices. Their disadvantage is that the child filters are reset each time a parent choice is changed. This can sometimes be annoying enough to the user to obviate their use. Dependent filters also cannot be configured as Background filters.
Some concepts for layout Patterns are shown in the four enhanced wire frames below.
#1 - A top row of relevant indicators with detailed analysis below. Note that the indicators are summaries of the line series in the chart.
#2 - A top row with a metric summary indicator. A second indicator row with sub-summary metrics. Details of these sub-summary metrics are presented in the stacked bar chart at the bottom.
#3 - A top row with 2 indicators with further detail right. A bottom row of related detailed analysis.
#4 - Stacked indicators on the left with related detailed analysis directly right. Also shown is a dashboard filter pattern that was used consistently across this analytics system.
Sisense demo dashboards are also a good reference for dashboard layout. You will notice good bit of Pattern consistency across them. There is an archived Dashboard Design webinar you may view on the Sisense website.
Many years ago I discovered Robin Patrica Williams' The Non-Designer's Web Book graphic design reference. Ms. Williams was a major contributor to the graphic design of the original Macintosh OS look and icons and the author of a number of books on web graphic design. In this book, she presents the key principals for good graphic design (I think we can agree that dashboards improve with good graphic design) as a mnemonic: CRAP. CRAP refers to contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity. Over time, these simple ideas have really helped me with a number of different graphic design related activities. With apologies to Ms. Williams, my adaption of the CRAP principal for dashboards is:
Consistency: Use consistent patterns on and across dashboards.
Repetition: Reuse the same layouts and widget types where appropriate.
Alignment: Widgets that align are easier on the eye.
Position: Place similar widgets in the same position across dashboards.
The good news is that Sisense' dashboard layout tools inherently support this approach.
Consistent dashboard Patterns will also help speed up the development of new dashboards. Always start with one of your existing patterns and you'll quickly have something to show that looks familiar and engaging to your users.
If an existing Pattern doesn't work for a new dashboard, it's time to create a new Pattern. Remember, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds". In other words, break these guidelines if they don't work for a particular need.