Dashboards: what?

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(Digital) Dashboards

[…] single-screen display of the most important information people need to do a job, presented in a way that allows them to monitor what’s going on in an instant

Few (2006)

(Digital) Dashboards

• “Centralisers” of data
• Not only about maps
• Up-to-date (dynamic/real time)

Dashboards: why (not)?

Why?

• Mo’data, mo’problems: need to access streams effectively
• Dynamic data requires dynamic mediums
• Decision-driven views: focus on “key indicators”

Useful features

• “Useful model” distilling the essential in one place
• Powerful, yet accessible (client/server model)
• Enable “designed” analysis

Why not?

Critical considerations

• Mechanistic view of complex/human systems
• Reductionist: Focus only on what can (and is) be measured
• Bias: What is measured? What is left out?

Map-based dashboards

• At least one view is a map, but may combine with other views
• Organise information presented through space/geography
• Limited but focused analysis through interactivity (“GIS on a browser”)

Dashboards: how?

How to design a dashboard

• Purpose first, technology next
• One-rule-fits-all
• Learning by (others’) mistakes

Thirteen mistakes in Dashboard Design
(Few, 2006)

Thirteen mistakes… (1-3)

1. Exceeding a single screen
2. Supplying inadequate context for the data
3. Excessive detail/precision

Thirteen mistakes… (4-6)

4. Choosing a deficient measure
5. Inappropriate display media
6. Meaningless variety

Thirteen mistakes… (7-9)

7. Poorly designed display media
8. Inaccurate encoding of quantitative data
9. Poor arrangement

Thirteen mistakes… (10-13)

10. Highlighting important data ineffectively
11. Display cluttering/decoration
12. Color mis/overuse
13. Unattractive visual displays

Enabling analysis

• Not only display of information
• Interactivity fits more into one screen
• “Purpose-built GIS”