Display methods

Line Charts

Line charts consist of a line that plots values to illustrate trends over a length of time. Add these charts to your dashboard whenever you have a continuous data set that you need to showcase, especially when that data set is a trend-based visualization that has more than 20 data points.

Bar Charts

Bar charts use vertical or horizontal bars to represent data. Use this when people need to compare values from seven or fewer categories. People can glance at these charts and quickly identify trends or top performers without having to spend much time digging into the data for a deep analysis.

Gauges

Gauges illustrate progress. Use the gauge icon and various colors to indicate how close the company is to achieving a goal. These are best gauging key performance indicators, such as leads collected or sales made. As the gauge fills up and turns green, viewers know they are reaching their goals.

Bullet Graph

When you create a dashboard, you are faced with the challenge of providing a robust amount of information in a small space. Because of that, many designers use bullet graphs instead of meters and gauges or traditional bar graphs. Bullet graphs provide an ample amount of information, and they don’t take up much space.
Components of a Bullet Graph

Bullet graphs consist of five key components.
The text label is used to define the purpose of the chart. This is a caption for your chart.

The quantitative scale is placed on the bottom of the graph and is used to measure the values that you provide. It contains tick marks, as well as text labels.

The comparative measure refers to the value that you use to compare the value that is located on the quantitative scale.

The qualitative scale represents various ranges, such as bad and good or low and high. You fill the background with the qualitative scale so people can easily interpret the data.

While bullet graphs are relatively straightforward, you can implement some design elements that allow you to show positive and negative values. You can also create a series of graphs that use different qualitative scales. For instance, a low value might be good on one graph and bad on anther graph. You would reverse the shading to represent that.

Maps

Spatial maps illustrate data trends and patterns. The map represents actual physical space. In many cases, it is used to represent a geolocation, but you can also use a spatial map to represent your business. These maps use color hues to represent data. Use this map when you want people to be able to compare groups of data and easily see patterns and trends.

Cards (or Widgets)

Cards or Widgets are defined as the basic unit of graphical information. They highlight an indicator or a number, allowing you to notice that very important value easily.

Icons

Icons are designed to grab people’s attention. Icons are used for alerts, navigation, and toggling (up/down, on/off). Your icons should be bold, clear, and easy to follow. They should stand out above all else, and people should immediately understand what they mean. Only use icons for important information. If you overuse them, people will develop icon blindness.

Tables

Tables place data into columns and rows and can contain sparklines and bullet charts. They are the perfect choice for comparing and analyzing relationships, as long as there aren’t many variables or data points involved. You can use tables to compare individual values and values that include various units of measurement. Tables can also represent precise values.

Pie Chart

Pie charts are a great idea in theory, but in reality, they don’t provide any useful data. You have to dig deeper to understand what they mean, especially if have more than three categories. The more categories you have with a pie chart, the harder it is to understand them. The pieces of pie get smaller and smaller, so the pie chart gets harder and harder to read.

Donut Chart

A donut chart is really just the same thing as a pie chart, so the same rules apply. Avoid donut charts whenever you can, especially if you have more than three categories. Viewers won’t be able to glean any real information from them.

3D Chart

Three-dimensional charts look cool, but they are difficult to understand. Viewers are left crossing their eyes and trying to make sense of the data. Make it easier for them by staying with two-dimensional charts.