Tableau dashboards serve many functions in different environments and settings. A dashboard made for the finance department of a company, comparing yearly metrics can look and feel very different when thinking about a dashboard designed to deliver a story or narrative. The former might require a deeper focus on calculation functions, statistics, and accuracy data; while the the latter might require more thought into design/visual factors such as color, font, juxtaposition of elements on your canvas.
While the framework of designing a Tableau dashboard is iterative in nature, we can benefit from having some planning before diving straight to building it in Tableau desktop. When designing a Tableau dashboard, there are three main thoughts to consider.
Who it is for-
The success of a dashboard can be measured in many ways, but with each project, or intention behind creating a dashboard comes the audience it is made for. If you are making a dashboard to track your expenses for example, you might be able to build a solid dashboard right off the bat since you know exactly what you want and need; however imagine you are building a dashboard to be utilized by a niche group of users, or an audience that does not know deeply about the topic you are showcasing, you might want to take a step back and really think about what you want them to take away from your dashboard. Consider the following:
- What do users/viewers want to know? What is going to help answer any questions they have? How can I answer some potential questions they have?
- How is my dashboard being used? Would it be exploratory where the user finds insights on their own or would it be explanatory where the user is presented with insights?
- How are users taking information away from my dashboard? Are there any accessibility factors I need to be aware of? What do I want them to take away?
Do I know my data-
With a structure of thoughts/questions to base off of, comes understanding the data you will be working with. Exploring the data can be as easy as opening it up in Excel, or even just plugging it on Tableau to see what you can build. By familiarizing yourself with what you have, you can easily determine if an idea is possible or requires more data through joins or relationships. Understanding the data beforehand not only helps you save time when building your dashboard but also allows you to focus and be clear on your intentions. Consider the following:
- What does each row in the dataset mean? Am I understanding what how the data is recorded? Is there a need to modify the structure of the data?
- Is the data I'm using accurate or up to date? How can I make sure to portray the data as accurately as I could?
- Is data prep required? Are there additional columns and rows of data that could potentially make the dashboard perform slower?
- What is the expected longevity of this dashboard? Will this dashboard serve a group of users for a year or 2 - 5 years? How would that affect how I build certain calculations or views on my dashboard?
How should I design the dashboard-
Now that you understand the data in addition to knowing your audience better, it's time to get right into it and build your dashboard. Right? Well, there are even more things that you could do that can save not only time but again your intention to working on Tableau. Knowing the chart types you will be using is helpful, but taking it another step and planning how to layout your dashboard is even more beneficial. Picking out different colors that would be used, fonts and their sizes, down to the interactivity of your dashboard can immensely save your effort in building and reiterating. We're talking working smart, not working too hard. Most importantly, design plays a huge part in constructing a narrative, when you choose a design, you have the responsibility of accurately portraying a fact. Consider the following when thinking about dashboard designs:
- What is the layout for the dashboard? Is it made to fit on one screen or to be scrolled from top to bottom, left to right? Is there enough white space on the canvas?
- Is there interactivity built into the dashboard? Are there instructions, legends, or notations on how to fully utilize the dashboard?
- Are the colors and fonts used appropriate? Do the colors cause an accessibility issue with individuals who are color blind? Is the font size too small and strains the eye?
- Am I correctly portraying the data with my chart choices and/or other design choices? How can I best make sure that my users understand my dashboard and its insights correctly?
Final thoughts-
Crafting an effective dashboard is a challenging task, but it can become surprisingly straightforward by focusing on key success metrics. The purpose driving the dashboard's creation sets the course, yet its ultimate triumph hinges on how well the data is presented. Although there are no rigid rules for creating an exceptional dashboard, commencing with a user-friendly and visually appealing design, especially when starting from scratch, is often the optimal approach. Delving into the specific preferences of your users or audience and incorporating these nuanced desires will consistently elevate your dashboard from merely functional to truly exceptional.