You know that poor design in dashboards can lead to misinterpretation of critical data.
But what can you do to gain confidence that your dashboards don’t mislead and drive maximum value?
It can negatively impact decision-making and business outcomes. This is why focusing on quality confidence in dashboard design is not just important, it is essential for effective data visualisation. In this comprehensive guide, we are diving deep into the third pillar of our Powerful Dashboards program: Quality Confidence.
Here you will learn about the significance of applying best practices, conducting peer reviews, and what it means to deliver a minimum viable product. By the end of this post, you will have actionable insights into designing dashboards that instil trust, usability, and facilitate informed decision-making.
Understanding Quality Confidence in Dashboards
In the world of data overload, establishing quality confidence on the data and the visual design is paramount. Users need to trust the dashboards they interact with; otherwise, the effectiveness of the data falls flat. High-quality dashboard design ensures that the data presented is reliable and the insights drawn from that data can be acted upon with confidence.
1. Best Practice Applied
Understanding Your Audience
The starting point for any good design is understanding who your users are. By conducting focus groups or user surveys, you can gather vital information regarding what users expect from your dashboard. This includes knowing what data they need to see and how they prefer it to be presented.
One senior finance colleague may be comfortable navigating through interactive dashboards and not want to be guided every. Step. Of. The. Way. Whereas another senior finance colleague may be uncomfortable if the starting point isn’t what they asked for or are used to seeing. Both in finance and both your target audience, but they can’t be treated the same. Not if you want to drive value for both of them.
Use Effective Layouts
Good layout is all about guiding your users through the information smoothly. By establishing a logical flow, you help users navigate easily, making it less likely that they misinterpret the data presented. Consider arranging data in a grid layout with clear sections that enable quick scanning.
Choose the Right Visuals
Selecting the appropriate type of visual representation is crucial for data clarity. We know that bar charts are effective in comparing quantities, and line graphs are better suited for displaying trends over time.
Always choose visuals that make it easier for the audience to extract insights quickly. Try not to be drawn in to selecting “the latest fads” of chart types that “experts” lead you to believing are essential.
Adding more insights on to an easily understood bar chart is better then creating complex visuals that are alien to your stakeholder. (Remember. You are not the user!)
Establish Consistency
Consistency in design plays a significant role in quality confidence. When your colour schemes, fonts, and chart styles are uniform throughout, it builds familiarity for users, allowing them to focus more on the data rather than figuring out a new format every time they access the dashboard.
Having consistency across multiple dashboards creates confidence in your users in working with all dashboards that can be useful to them.
Imagine if your car dashboard layout changed every journey you take.
Regular User Testing
User testing is crucial to achieving optimal dashboard design. Engaging users early during the design process provides invaluable feedback, allowing you to identify usability issues before you’ve spent a lot of time being a brilliant version of the wrong solution.
We have all been there. We’ve presented a carefully crafted and polished dashboard only to hear…”can you just”…or worse…”Can I download that to Excel?”
These questions are often heard when we haven’t tested and engaged with our target audience early enough in the design process.
2. Peer Reviews
Collaboration Is Key
Collaboration amongst team members and a trusted group – designers, data analysts, and stakeholders – ensures that potential pitfalls are addressed early in the process. Establishing a collaborative environment will allow for diverse ideas to flourish, ultimately enhancing the quality of the dashboard.
Continuous Learning
Stay updated with the latest industry trends and standards in dashboard design. Attend webinars, workshops, and engage with community forums to learn about new best practices and incorporate them into your dashboard design process.
Create a Review Team
Establish a review team that consists of diverse members. This team should include individuals with different levels of expertise who can provide a well-rounded critique of the dashboard’s design and function. Can someone not involved in the project easily navigate to the deeper insights? What are their first impressions?
Incorporate Feedback Loop
Utilising tools that track teamwork and communication allows project teams to effectively manage feedback. Using these tools helps establish clear accountability and improves the likelihood of implementing suggestions made during peer reviews.
Balance Objectivity and Subjectivity
Quality assurance is not only about metrics but also subjective opinions. A successful dashboard design will balance statistical analysis with personal preferences and insights gained from peer feedback. This comprehensive perspective can reveal areas for further enhancement.
3. Minimum Viable Product (”MVP”) Published
Start with Core Features
When launching a new dashboard, starting with core features allows you to release quickly without overwhelming users. Focus on the functionality most needed by users to evaluate its effectiveness without complicating the initial experience.
Don’t let non-perfect data slow you down – work with what you have and drive improvement in data workflows in parallel.
Set Realistic Timelines
Timelines should reflect the complexity of the dashboard you’re creating. Setting realistic deadlines for each development phase allows for an iterative process where ongoing user feedback can continuously inform improvements.
Successful dashboard projects are not “big bang” releases.
Gather Early Feedback
Once your MVP is released, gathering feedback is imperative. Providing a platform for users to share their experience can uncover unforeseen issues that may have been missed during development.
Iterate Based on Insights
Incorporate constructive feedback into future iterations of the product. This process iteratively improves the dashboard, reinforcing user trust in the product as it evolves.
Use future iteration planning and feature backlogs to time-box your releases. Regular product releases allow feedback loops and build up confidence in the release cycles. Stakeholder love to know they are being listened to by seeing things they need coming to them regularly.
Plan for Phase Two
Once users are familiar with your MVP and trusted dashboard elements, it’s time to re-evaluate user needs and plan subsequent phases for further development, enhancing the dashboard with additional features based on real user input.
I often suggest that the version number matters…if your first version is V 1, then users will assume its the finished article. Making this V 0.1 means that it’s usable, but there will be changes…encouraging feedback for the requirements of the next and further versions is a great way to get them to use the early versions and to keep momentum.
Why Quality Confidence Matters
Quality confidence is essential in robust dashboard design. The steps outlined above help create dashboards that are not only visually appealing but also drive impactful decisions. By rigorously applying best practices, engaging in peer reviews, and publishing MVPs, your organisation will build trust with users and the C Suite, thus reinforcing their reliance on the data presented.
Where Can You Go from Here?
Establishing quality confidence in your dashboard design isn’t a one-time task—it requires ongoing effort. Continuously incorporating best practices, facilitating collaboration, and embracing user feedback creates a cycle of improvement that leads to enhanced user satisfaction.
We are launching a Case Study group next month to further dive into these principles and their practical application.
Contact us for details on how you can be a part of this initiative and take your dashboard design to the next level!
