7 Dashboard Design Principles Every Analyst Should Know

Design Principles

1. Know your audience — Executive vs operational dashboards differ
2. Less is more — Maximum 5-7 KPIs per view
3. Visual hierarchy — Most important metrics top-left
4. Consistent color coding — Green for positive, red for alerts
5. Interactive, not cluttered — Use drill-throughs wisely
6. Mobile responsive — 40% of users check on mobile
7. Tell a story — Guide the eye through the narrative