In case the question pops up in your mind regarding why it is essential to put plenty of thought into UI dashboard designs, the answer is quite simple. This is because the dashboard is going to be the initial thing seen by the users while dealing with your product. It must be usable at the first glance. Moreover, all the remarkable technologies like Blockchain, AI, and machine learning will be useless in case you do not present them in an understandable manner to the users. For this reason, UI dashboard designs are in need of a comprehensive thought process.
Below, we have stated 10 UI dashboard designs tips that will come of use to you.
1. Be consistent
It is essential for the design to be undeviating across the dashboard. One should maintain consistency for the design on every device of different sizes. Besides this, the functionalities when it comes to colors, fonts, placement of the elements, style charts, and navigation must be consistent.
Designing the smallest screen at first will be a decent idea. This method will help you to create appealing spaces for more significant info at first and will lead you to the creation of a fantastic UI that improves the capabilities of the UX too.
2. Enable customization
The dashboard will be more useful to the users if they are able to personalize it. Nevertheless, it is of prime importance to figure out the proper balance for the dashboard. Moreover, visual consistency or navigation patterns throughout the system should not be affected by customization options.
3. Show only what is required
Even though it might sound to be obvious, it is not the actual fact. The main challenge will be to find the proper balance between the information which we are able to display and the information which should be displayed on the dashboard. As mentioned by Albert Einstein, everything that cannot be counted counts, while everything that can be counted does not count. Although it is enticing to build every feasible chart, card, and filter, it will be sensible to go wrong when it comes to simplicity. In case the users like to find more info, make it simple for them to dive deeper and access the data in one more area of your product.
4. Never mislead
It is imperative for charts to tell the actual fact regarding a set of information. As a result, choosing the proper way is essential for decent comprehension. Take into consideration the excessive animations and optical distortions which, even with the correct information, might lead to incorrect interpretation for those who are not attentive.
5. Expose the context
It is important for a decent dashboard layout to have descriptive titles for assisting the analysts in comprehending the data quickly. Maintain a powerful icon convention and a strong naming for reinforcing contexts at the time of navigation.
6. Facilitate a comprehensive investigation
On many occasions, it is essential for the analysts to probe into the data further. Make it simpler for them by offering options such as breadcrumbs, filters, as well as drill-downs.
7. Give importance to color psychology
Various colors are going to denote various things. Take into consideration a traffic light. We need to stop when we see the red light, and green implies that we can go on driving. Now, think of a green light which needs us to stop and a red light which conveys it is possible to continue driving. This will be quite confusing in the long run. For this reason, one must be mindful of colors which are used in UI dashboard designs.
Apart from using the proper shades, one should not go overboard with the shades used. One should leverage contrast so as to make use of color properly. It will be prudent to start by making use of a couple of shades which match well.
8. Use the correct font
The font’s style, as well as size, is equally vital when it comes to UI and UX. Make it a point not to use in excess of 2 font styles while designing the dashboard.
It is essential to create a visual hierarchy (in the form of an inverted pyramid) with the written content on the dashboard. It is feasible to achieve this by putting the most significant insights in the biggest font in a distinctive shade while putting the not-so-vital info in a font size which is smaller.
9. Comprehend information hierarchy
Dashboards usually place plenty of info within a small space, and therefore, it is essential to create a clear hierarchical connection between the elements. This can be achieved by leveling identical sets of data visually and categorizing the secondary information. The size of the elements, typography, borders, card design, and shadows are all vital for helping the users comprehend the content.
10. Focus on the iconography
Although overlooked, icons happen to be an essential part of UI dashboard designs. In fact, the best designs consist of familiar icons. For instance, a trash can is used to symbolize “delete”, and everybody will be able to recognize its function easily. Users usually make use of dashboards multiple times on a daily basis for getting some quick information. Consequently, obvious signifiers will aid in reducing the processing time and the creation of remarkable UI and UX.