Greetings, dear reader! I hope you're sitting comfortably because we're about to embark on a journey through the wonderful world of dashboard design. And let's be honest, what's more exciting than designing a dashboard? Well, maybe skydiving or swimming with sharks, but let's not get sidetracked here. :)
As a Data Artist, I've seen my fair share of dashboards that could use a little sprucing up. But fear not, my fellow dashboard enthusiasts, because today I'm going to show you how to challenge your dashboard from a UX perspective. The idea here is to look at your dashboard from a different perspective, we're talking about making your dashboard more user-friendly and intuitive.
So, grab a cup of coffee, put on your thinking cap, and let's dive into the wonderful world of dashboard design. As a Data Artist, one of your main goals is to create interfaces that are intuitive, user-friendly, and effective. This is especially important when it comes to dashboards. However, designing a dashboard that is truly effective and user-friendly can be a challenge, and requires not only a great Business intelligence tool, but also a deep understanding of UX principles and techniques.
Every time, i am challenging a dashboard, i always use the same approach, let’s have a look
5 Steps to make it happen
AUDIENCE
One way to challenge a dashboard from a UX perspective is to focus on the user's needs and goals. A dashboard is only effective if it is tailored to the specific needs and goals of the user, and provides the information and insights that the user is looking for. To challenge a dashboard from a UX perspective, start by identifying the user's needs and goals, and ask the key question : “before we start talking about this dashboard, could you please tell me the “why” of this dashboard ?”
LAYOUT
Another way to challenge a dashboard from a UX perspective is to focus on the organization and structure of the information on the page. A well-designed dashboard should be easy to navigate and use, and should allow users to quickly and easily find and access the information they need. To challenge a dashboard from a UX perspective, consider how the information on the page is organized and structured, and consider ways to improve the overall usability and effectiveness of the dashboard. Think about ways to read information, think about Z, F approach or Inverted Pyramid. There are multiple ways to organize your layout.
VISUAL
A third way to challenge a dashboard from a UX perspective is to focus on the visual design of the dashboard. The visual design of a dashboard can have a major impact on its usability and effectiveness, and can make the difference between a dashboard that is easy to use and one that is difficult and confusing. To challenge a dashboard from a UX perspective, consider Gestalt principles, Hick, Fitts, Von Restorff effect, and consider ways to improve its overall aesthetic and user-friendliness.
COLOR
A fourth way to challenge a dashboard is to focus on colors. Choosing the right colors for your dashboard is crucial to creating a positive user experience. The colors you select will have a significant impact on how users perceive and interact with your product. Colors can evoke emotions and convey meaning, and can also affect usability by creating contrast, highlighting important information, and guiding users through the interface. When choosing colors for your dashboard, it's important to consider the purpose of the dashboard. By selecting the right colors, you can enhance the usability, aesthetic appeal, and overall effectiveness of your dashboard.
CHART
A fifht way to challenge is to look at the chart selected. I cannot stress enough the importance of selecting the right chart to effectively communicate data. The right chart can make all the difference in presenting complex data in a clear and concise manner. Different charts are appropriate for different types of data and can emphasize different aspects of the data. A poorly chosen chart can lead to confusion, misinterpretation, and a lack of actionable insights. Choosing the right chart requires an understanding of the goals of message. Take a look at FT visual vocabulary for inspiration, it is useful for Tableau, Powerbi and Qlik. It may seem like a small detail, but it can have a significant impact on the success of the dashboard.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, challenging a dashboard from a UX perspective is an important part of the design process, and can help to create a dashboard that is truly effective and user-friendly. The good point is the fact that you can do this quite easily and it is a very powerful exercice that will help to better communicate your message. A great way to do this is to organize “internal challenging sessions” bring some colleagues, the first one need to present a dashboard and the other are here to discuss and challenge with this list. You will be amazed with the results of such exercise.
Have a GREAT week and always keep in mind, "Nothing will change until you decide to make it happen".
JP
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