How to Design a KPI Dashboard

Key performance indicators (KPI) can tell a business how it’s performing. Data analysts work together to consistently measure KPIs, see how they change in response to changing variables, and draw conclusions that force the company to take action in new ways. If implemented properly, the company’s data analysis strategy—rooted in studying KPIs—will be useful in helping the company grow.

To understand KPIs, most data analysts turn to the help of a KPI dashboard—but for a KPI dashboard to be effective, it has to be effectively designed.

What Makes a Great KPI Dashboard?

There are many examples of well-designed KPI dashboards, but what makes them great?

Ultimately, they have a few characteristics in common:

· Visual. Data is much easier to interpret when it’s in visual form, compared to when it’s purely in numerical form. That’s why most KPI dashboards lean heavily on the use of charts and graphs; they can visually depict numbers that would otherwise be difficult to abstractly analyze.

· Simple. Of course, understanding the importance of strong visuals sometimes leads designers to “over design.” They pack the dashboard with as many visual elements as possible. But there’s a problem with this; if there are too many competing elements in a single view, the user is going to be confused and/or overwhelmed. It’s usually better to keep things as simple as possible. That means only including the fields and sections that are necessary, and leaving plenty of space between them so they can be easily distinguished.

· Intuitive. Good dashboards are also highly intuitive—meaning it doesn’t take much time for someone to understand the purpose of the dashboard, and leverage it for what they need. Even an untrained or inexperienced data analyst should be able to, at a glance, draw some basic conclusions from looking at the dashboard. In some ways, this is the most elusive characteristic of effective KPI dashboards because different people learn in different ways—and what’s intuitive to one person may be nearly impenetrable to another.

· Alterable. Most data analysts like to tinker with variables and formats to get a clearer picture of what the data represent. That means your KPI dashboard needs some flexibility to it. Sometimes, this is primarily an issue with programming; the developer will need to add features that allow data analysts to change outputs and see graphs change in response, in real time. Other times, you’ll need to incorporate some customizability into your design.

· Aesthetically pleasing. Ultimately, the KPI dashboard should also be aesthetically pleasing. Data analysts are going to spend much of their day studying the patterns of these charts and graphs, so they might as well be nice to look at. Obviously, this is one of the more subjective items on this list, but you should keep it in mind if you’re responsible for designing an effective KPI dashboard.

Tips for Designing a KPI Dashboard

If you’re tasked with designing a KPI dashboard, there are a few tips that can lead you to success:

· Understand your audience. Different types of people are going to want different things out of their dashboards, so it pays to know your audience. Are these the types of people who like clean minimalism with lots of white space, or are they the type to push to get as many features into a dashboard as possible? Do they want something simple and static, or something more flexible and dynamic?

· Get sample data. Take the time to learn what the KPIs for this organization are, and why they matter. When you have the context for the company’s data, you’ll be able to consider and look at your KPI dashboard through the eyes of a data analyst. That means you’ll come up with a much better approach.

· Mock up multiple core options. Next, you’ll be ready to create mockups of multiple versions of the dashboard. This is your chance to play with options; for example, you can come up with an open-version and a more compact version, contrasting the two approaches with your design.

· Tinker with colors and placement. After you’ve developed the core versions of the dashboard, take the time to experiment with colors, element placement, and other minor variables.

· Get feedback. Finally, get some feedback. Present your mockups to the people who will be using your KPI dashboard on a regular basis, and ask them what they think. They may provide you with a different direction, or ask you to tweak some things. Come up with a compromise that works for everyone.

With these tips, you can design a KPI dashboard that’s easy, approachable, and effective. You’ll play an important part in aiding the KPI analysis of your client (or employer), and your team of data analysts will be grateful.