How do you create a dashboard template?

In the world of Business Intelligence (BI) and consultancy, building dashboard templates for internal or client use is crucial but often underestimated. A template is a predefined design used to ensure consistency in layout, visualizations, use of color and formatting settings such as typeface, font, size and so on, which can be applied to new dashboards. In this blog, we describe 4 steps that can help you develop your own template.

Why invest time and effort in developing a template?

The answer is simple: consistency and efficiency.

Without a standardized approach, developers are free to design their own dashboards, which can lead to variation in dashboard design, visualizations and even in the way data is interpreted and presented. This can cause confusion and misunderstandings among users, making it harder to obtain reliable insights and make data-driven decisions. What's more, a lack of consistency can lead to inefficiency, wasted time and resources, and a greater risk of errors, because the wheel is reinvented every time a dashboard is built. Create this template using dummy data so developers have a clear and usable example.

Step 1: Define the user persona

Defining a user persona before building a template is essential. The reason is that you are creating a design for the specific needs and objectives of the users. This ensures a better user experience, increases the relevance and usability of the dashboard, boosts its adoption and ultimately maximizes its effectiveness. Consider the following points:

• Define a fictional user group, considering age, level of education, data literacy and so on
• Define the wishes, needs and frustrations of this user group
• Think about when this user group will use the dashboard

Step 2: Use the DAR principle

When building a template, the DAR principle is one of the most important guidelines. DAR stands for: Dashboard – Analysis – Reporting.

The Dashboard page provides an overview of all key KPIs, so you can see the current state of affairs at a glance. This helps identify any challenges or successes. You want your user group to be able to steer based on the KPIs. If you want to dig deeper and understand the reasons behind the KPI values, the Analysis page offers, for example, correlations, comparisons and outliers. You can choose to create a separate analysis page for each KPI. Finally, the Reporting page offers a detailed table with all the measures and dimensions used, allowing you to analyze details down to row level using filters.

We also recommend adding an information page as the last sheet of the template. This provides an overview of the KPI definitions, answers to frequently asked questions and important contact details for users, such as the contact details of the BI support department or the business owner of the dashboard.

Step 3: Choose the right visualizations

Choosing the right visualizations for the template is essential to communicate insights effectively. Consider which questions you want to answer and which conclusions you want users to draw.

Please note: Below we present a best practice. There are several options when it comes to choosing the right visualization.

Here are some common insights and the corresponding charts:

• Comparisons: here you compare different categories or variables to identify relative differences. The bar chart is the most suitable.
• Development over time: this type of insight focuses on trends and changes over time. The line chart is ideal.
• Relationships: this type of insight focuses on relationships between variables. The scatter plot is suitable for this.
• Part-to-whole: here you show the proportion of different parts relative to the whole. A 100% stacked bar chart is the most suitable.
• Distributions: this type of insight analyzes the distribution of grouped data and identifies patterns within the dataset. The histogram is ideal.
• Data: data does not always need to be visualized. Sometimes the need is to create an overview of different data points. The table is suitable for this.
• Geographic: this type of insight visualizes geographic patterns and trends. The map is ideal.

Step 4: Avoid cognitive overload

Cognitive load, also known as clutter, is a crucial aspect of designing an effective template. Clutter refers to the amount of mental effort required to perform a task, such as processing information or making decisions. We probably all know an example of a dashboard where you are not quite sure what you are looking at because of all the different and confusing elements on the screen. This causes stress and reduces efficiency in decision-making. That is why it is important to keep the following points in mind when building a dashboard or template to avoid clutter:

• Readability: make sure the information is easy to read by choosing suitable fonts, using enough white space and avoiding too much text on one screen or an overly busy background.
• Graphic elements: use graphic elements such as icons and symbols to present information visually and reduce cognitive load. Recognizable icons help communicate complex concepts quickly and improve the user experience. However, avoid overusing them to prevent clutter.
• Consistent use of color: different colors evoke different associations, so be aware of this. These associations can differ from person to person. Neutral colors reduce cognitive load and create a pleasant user experience. And use consistent colors to avoid confusing users.
• Avoid unnecessary visual elements: try to avoid the following visual elements if they add no value to the visual:
  • Gridlines
  • Data labels
  • Titles or subtitles on the visual or axes
  • Icons
  • Moving elements

The E-mergo template

At E-mergo, we have also developed a template that clearly demonstrates the DAR principle. On the dashboard page, users can analyze six key KPIs and see at a glance whether they are above or below target, indicated by the use of color. This makes it possible to steer based on the data. We have also added two analysis pages for more in-depth analyses. We deliberately chose neutral colors with a few striking colors such as green and red to highlight specific points, such as performance above or below target, and neutral colors to distinguish between different dimension values. To avoid unnecessary visual elements and maintain clarity, we made sure all visual elements are applied consistently. A reporting page has been added, allowing users to zoom in on the data down to the finest level of detail. Finally, an information page is included. You can find the E-mergo Template below, where you can view it and click through the different pages!

Please note: the data presented in this dashboard is based on dummy data and is intended for illustrative purposes only. The content is not intended to be interpreted as factual information.

Want to learn more?

Do you also think it is important to develop an effective dashboard design, or would you like to build a template for your own organization and learn more about effective dashboard design and data visualization? We can provide a workshop or training for you and/or your colleagues. Take a look at the dashboard design training below or get in touch with us.