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2026-07-16

Dashboard Design: What Makes a Good Business Dashboard

Principles of effective dashboard design for business applications.

A dashboard is the first thing your team sees. A good dashboard answers “is everything OK?” within seconds.

Principles of Good Dashboard Design

  • Show what matters: Not every data point deserves dashboard space.
  • Use colour purposefully: RAG indicators provide instant understanding.
  • Summary first, detail on demand: The dashboard shows totals and statuses. Click through for details.
  • No scrolling: The most important information should be visible without scrolling.

Example Dashboard Elements

  • Total items / staff / properties (the big number).
  • Overdue items (red count with link to the list).
  • Due soon (amber count).
  • Compliant (green count).
  • Recent activity (last 5 updates).

Every dashboard I build is designed to be understood by anyone who can use a web browser. No training required.


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