Jayant GuptaA beautiful dashboard nobody can read is worse than an ugly spreadsheet everyone understands. These twelve principles guide every dashboard we build at Data Studio Experts.
1. Lead with the Answer
Every dashboard should answer a question within five seconds. Large scorecards with clear labels. See KPI guide.
2. Right Chart Type
Bars for comparison. Lines for trends. Scorecards for single numbers. Tables for detail. Pie charts: almost never.
3. Reduce Clutter
Remove gridlines, borders, decoration that does not encode data. Our mistakes guide covers worst offenders.
4. Consistent Colours
3-5 colour palette used consistently. No red/green together (colour blindness).
5. Context with Comparisons
Add period-over-period, targets, benchmarks via date range controls.
6-12
Group related metrics. Progressive disclosure. Label everything. Design for the viewer. Test on mobile. Smart filtering. Review with stakeholders. Get a quote for professional design.