Introduction
Creating effective data visualisations and dashboards encourages user trust, engagement, and efficient extraction of insights. However, designing clear and impactful visualisations can be challenging at first. This article discusses five best practices to help you become proficient in data visualisation and dashboard design.
1. Define Purpose and Audience
Begin by identifying the target audience and their requirements. This guides the level of complexity and the key insights to focus on.
For a sales performance dataset:
- Executives may prioritise total revenue, profit margins and monthly trends best presented with high level KPI cards and line charts.
- Sales manager may need more detailed insights, which could be provided through bar charts with drill-down functionality.
2. Emphasise Key Metrics
Establish visual hierarchy by adjusting the size, position, and colour to emphasise key metrics. This ensures the users can easily find the information they need and stay engaged.
In a sales dashboard:
- Place KPIs like monthly revenue, expenses, and net profit prominently in the top-left corner.
- Use colours to indicate performance against targets, enhancing clarity and understanding.
3. Choose the Right Visualisation
While visually impressive charts may seem appealing, prioritise simple visualisations for actionable insights. Additionally, focus on a few essential chart types:
- Bar charts for comparisons
- Line charts for trends
- Scatter plots for correlations.
Example
To display monthly revenue by region, a bar chart is effective. Avoid using pie charts, especially if comparing more than two regions.
4. Simplify
Ensure visualisations are clean and focused by removing unnecessary elements like gridlines, borders, and redundant text. Use a limited colour palette with a few emphasis colours. White space can be used to provide structure and hierarchy.
A dashboard with a light background, a muted colour palette, white space and concise labelling is easier to interpret than a cluttered one.
5. Maintain Consistency
Consistency reduces cognitive load by minimising style changes. Use a consistent colour scheme, font type, sizing, and alignment throughout.
Use one emphasis colour for key metrics across the dashboard. Avoid reusing the same colour for unrelated metrics to maintain clarity.
Conclusion
These best practices provide a foundation for effective data visualisation. Delve deeper into each area to enhance your understanding and refine your skills.
Author: Troy
Troy holds degrees in Science, IT, and Education. These have equipped him with a multidisciplinary foundation combining analytical thinking, problem-solving, and technical proficiency. During his graduate studies at CSIRO, where he analysed genetic sequence data and gene expression profiles as part of a broader research project, he developed a deep interest in uncovering insights through data. After several years as a STEM educator, Troy has transitioned back to being data-focused, bringing a unique perspective shaped by his teaching experience and ability to convey complex ideas effectively. His skills cover the entire data lifecycle, from data cleaning and analysis to creating effective visualisations that support decision-making. In his free time, Troy enjoys trail running and staying active, relishing the chance to clear his mind and explore the outdoors.