Information Visualization: Getting Dashboards Right
How This Course Will Help Your Career
What You’ll Learn
- An introduction to dashboard design
- Key considerations when you design for dashboards, such as using the pre-attentive attributes of color, form, orientation, and spatial location
- How principles of visual perception—encompassing how, what, and why we see what we do—can be applied to your dashboard designs
- Key concepts related to dashboard design, such as the “data-ink ratio,” summaries and exceptions, the benefits of customization, and how to promote insight
- Some of the psychological aspects of dashboard use, including attention, short-term memory, and problem solving
- Examples of good and bad design to help you avoid common mistakes
- The importance of viewing experience over aesthetics
Dashboards are everywhere—in enterprise software, Google Analytics and Facebook Ads Manager, and even popular blogs such as WordPress and Medium. Dashboards are going to become increasingly important—Accenture found that 79% of executives think that companies will lose their competitive position if they do not embrace big data. But how do you pack increasingly huge amounts of data into increasingly streamlined, tiny dashboards?
“Information Visualization: Getting Dashboards Right” will lead you through some of the key considerations when designing dashboard displays. Some design choices may seem arbitrary, such as the color of the background display or the size of the company logo, but almost every decision can potentially make, or ruin, the viewing experience. Through this course, we help you identify many of the design pitfalls your competitors have already fallen into. We will equip you with a deeper understanding of your users, so you know how to reduce their burden of responsibility as well as promote insight—the main reason for using dashboards as the chosen display method.
By the end of the course, you will have a clear understanding of how to design the right dashboards for your intended users, saving yourself the effort of endless edits. You will also be able to avoid the common faults blighting your competitors' designs by being equipped with the necessary information to design products that provide your users with the best possible viewing experience and, in turn, generate an increase in sales.
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Is This Course Right for You?
This is an intermediate-level course suitable for students and professionals alike:
- UX designers interested in learning the key considerations, design pitfalls, and how to promote insight when designing dashboards
- Project managers looking to create dashboard displays that are relevant and effective to users
- Software engineers interested in the best practices for designing dashboards
- Entrepreneurs who want to create dashboard displays that are relevant and that will increase sales
- Students and newcomers to design who are considering making a switch to UX, UI, or web design
Courses in the Interaction Design Foundation are designed to contain comprehensive, evidence-based content, while ensuring that the learning curve is never too steep. All participants will have the opportunity to share ideas, seek help with tests, and enjoy the social aspects afforded by our open and friendly forum.
Learn and Work with a Global Team of Designers
You’ll join a global community and work together to improve your skills and career opportunities. Connect with helpful peers and make friends with like-minded individuals as you push deeper into the exciting and booming industry of design.
Lessons in This Course
- Each week, one lesson becomes available.
- There’s no time limit to finish a course. Lessons have no deadlines.
- Estimated learning time: 18 hours 16 mins spread over 8 weeks .
Lesson 0: Introductions and welcome
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour 48 mins.
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0.1: Welcome (10 mins)
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0.2: An introduction to courses from the Interaction Design Foundation (37 mins)
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0.3: Let our community help you (1 min)
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0.4: How to Earn Your Course Certificate (16 mins)
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0.5: Meet your peers online in our discussion forums (6 mins)
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0.6: Meet and learn from design professionals at an upcoming meet-up (1 min)
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0.7: Gain Timeless Knowledge Through Courses From the Interaction Design Foundation (21 mins)
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0.8: Mandatory vs. Optional Lesson Items (7 mins)
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0.9: A Mix Between Video-Based and Text-Based Lesson Content (8 mins)
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0.10: Raw Data and Design (7 mins)
Lesson 1: Information Visualization: An Introduction to Dashboard Design
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 2 hours 35 mins.
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1.1: An Introduction: Information Visualization (10 mins)
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1.2: Business Intelligence Dashboards: Information Visualization (40 mins)
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1.3: Dashboards: Information Visualization (11 mins)
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1.4: Dashboard Design: Information Visualization (13 mins)
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1.5: Consistency and Standards in Dashboard Design: Information Visualization (10 mins)
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1.6: Dashboards: Following the Information Scent (14 mins)
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1.7: Fragmentation: Information Visualization (13 mins)
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1.8: Dashboard Design and Scrolling: Information Visualization (13 mins)
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1.9: Good Dashboard Design: Information Visualization (16 mins)
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1.10: Dashboard Design 'No-nos': Information Visualization (15 mins)
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1.11: Dashboard Design in Practice (6 mins)
Lesson 2: Dashboard Design: Key Considerations
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 2 hours 43 mins.
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2.1: Promoting Insight: Information Visualization (43 mins)
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2.2: Limitations of Short-term Memory: Information Visualization (19 mins)
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2.3: Dashboard Design and Short-Term Memory: Information Visualization (13 mins)
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2.4: 'Data-Ink Ratio': Information Visualization (14 mins)
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2.5: Exceptions: Information Visualization (14 mins)
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2.6: Using Images: Information Visualization (15 mins)
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2.7: Dashboard Design and Aesthetic Appeal: Information Visualization (14 mins)
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2.8: Information Visualization (14 mins)
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2.9: Three Important Questions: Information Visualization (14 mins)
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2.10: Dashboard Design: Information Visualization (8 mins)
Lesson 3: Dashboard Design: Visual Perception and the Gestalt Principles
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 2 hours 7 mins.
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3.1: Dashboard Design and Visual Perception: Information Visualization (15 mins)
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3.2: Dashboard Design and the Gestalt Principles: Information Visualization (14 mins)
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3.3: Using Colour in Dashboard Design: Information Visualization (16 mins)
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3.4: Using Colour: Information Visualization (12 mins)
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3.5: Dashboard Design and Visual Highlighting: Information Visualization (39 mins)
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3.6: Dashboard Design: Information Visualization (15 mins)
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3.7: Information Visualization (13 mins)
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3.8: Visual aspects of the Design (6 mins)
Lesson 4: Dashboard Design Considerations: Practical Application
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour 26 mins.
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4.1: Applying Design Considerations: Dashboard Design (10 mins)
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4.2: The Problem With Pie Charts: Dashboard Design (41 mins)
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4.3: Consistency and Standards: Dashboard Design (8 mins)
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4.4: Conform to the Norm: Dashboard Design (15 mins)
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4.5: Using Colour and the General Viewing Experience: Dashboard Design (9 mins)
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4.6: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 5: Common Display Methods
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour 51 mins.
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5.1: Bar Graphs: Dashboard Design (12 mins)
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5.2: Line Chart: Dashboard Design (17 mins)
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5.3: Scatter Plot: Dashboard Design (13 mins)
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5.4: Tables: Dashboard Design (13 mins)
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5.5: Box Plots: Dashboard Design (16 mins)
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5.6: Pie Charts: Dashboard Design (38 mins)
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5.7: Display Method-Your Experience (6 mins)
Lesson 6: Further Dashboard Display Methods
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour 38 mins.
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6.1: Stacked Bar Graphs: Dashboard Design (46 mins)
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6.2: Spatial Maps: Dashboard Design (19 mins)
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6.3: Information Dials: Dashboard Design (16 mins)
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6.4: Icons: Dashboard Design (14 mins)
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6.5: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 7: Dashboard Design: Think of the Users!
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 1 hour 57 mins.
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7.1: Organisation is Key: Usability Considerations (42 mins)
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7.2: Permit and Support Meaningful Comparisons: Usability Considerations (14 mins)
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7.3: Prevent Inappropriate Comparisons: Usability Considerations (11 mins)
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7.4: Aesthetics are Important: Usability Considerations (13 mins)
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7.5: Discussion Exercise – Choose Colours Wisely: Usability Considerations (7 mins)
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7.6: Allow Quick Access: Usability Considerations (18 mins)
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7.7: Usability Testing: Usability Considerations (8 mins)
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7.8: Using Skeuomorphism: Yay or Nay?: Dashboard Design (3 mins)
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7.9: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 8: Dashboard Design: Applying and Summarising
To be scheduled. Estimated time to complete: 2 hours 11 mins.
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8.1: The Important Design Questions: Information Dashboard Design (1 hour 11 mins)
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8.2: Application: Dashboard Design (11 mins)
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8.3: Daily Sales Dashboard: Dashboard Design (21 mins)
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8.4: Accidents Vs. Workers' Pay Dashboard: Dashboard Design (26 mins)
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8.5: Discussion Forum (6 mins)
Lesson 9: Course Certificate, Final Networking, and Course Wrap-up
To be scheduled.
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9.1: Get Your Course Certificate (1 min)
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9.2: Course Evaluation (1 min)
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9.3: Continue Your Professional Growth (1 min)
How Others Have Benefited
Prashant Katrabad, India
“The course has taken my understanding of dashboard to the next level. I hope to design better dashboards in future.”
Eric Azares, United States
“This gave me a lot of principles I can immediately apply to dashboard design. Now that I know the principles, I have a more critical eye for dashboards I see on a daily basis. I can view all my dashboards not just as a consumer but as a designer. Time to go organize information!”
Sharon Kruskopf Sens, United States
“This course has certainly underscored the challenge of designing an effective dashboard. I find that I analyze every dashboard I now see!”
How It Works
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Control your learning.
Lessons are self-paced so you’ll never be late for class or miss a deadline. Learning and life, hand in hand.
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Earn Course Certificates.
Your answers are graded by experts, not machines. Get an industry-recognized Course Certificate to show you’ve put in the work.
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Advance your career.
Grow your professional knowledge by watching Master Classes, networking within our UX community, and more.
Start Advancing Your Career Now
Join us to take “Information Visualization: Getting Dashboards Right”. Take other courses at no additional cost. Make a concrete step forward in your career path today.
Advance my career nowFrequently Asked Questions
When I finish a course, do I have to pay extra to get my certificate?
Can I take more than one course at a time?
With a Student membership, you can take a maximum of two courses at the same time. You can still take as many courses as you would like – free of extra charges – just as long as you finish or drop them so that you don’t have more than two ongoing courses.
I missed the enrollment, and now the course is closed. What can I do?
Don't worry if you missed the course. We will re-run it shortly. One of the reasons we continually open and close courses is in order to control the classroom size.
Networking is a large part of our value proposition, so we want just the right number of people inside the courses. That is also why we display the "XX % percent booked" on our course icons.
Do I have to be online at an exact time to study?
No. You can set your own study schedule. There are no "live sessions" since we have members from all timezones around the world. We are a truly global community.
Thus, once you are enrolled, you can take all the time to complete a given course. Every "classroom" in each course will never close, so you’ll have permanent access to your classmates and your course material (as well as your own answers).
Will I receive a Course Certificate?
Yes. You will get a digital industry-recognized course certificate every time you complete a course. Certificates never expire and can be saved as a .jpg file, so it's easy to be shared. Also, there is no limit to how many certificates you can earn during your membership.
You can see an example of a Course Certificate at the bottom of the Course Catalogue.
I have answered questions in a lesson; when will they be marked/graded?
I have updated my name, but my course certificate is not updated — how can I change it?
Don't worry; once you change your name, your certificate will be updated automatically in the next 48 hours.
I have started my course later than the specified date, are my answers still going to be marked?
Sure! We will be marking all your answers for as long as you are an active member.
How are courses graded?
For how long will I have access to the course materials?
You will have access to the course materials for the entire duration of your membership. So, if you pay for a one-year membership, you will have access for one year. Renewing your membership for a second year means you will have access to one more year, and so on.
New lessons are starting before I have completed the previous lesson(s). Am I going to be locked out of these unfinished lessons?
No, you will not be locked out of any lesson or course. You will have access to all course materials throughout your membership, so there is no pressure to keep at the same pace as the specified lesson release dates.
All we recommend is that you try to stick to the same schedule as other participants. The reason is they may have moved on to other lessons, thereby meaning you could miss out on the social aspects of the course(s).
Do I have a specific date to award my certificates?
No, you can generate your certificate as soon as you score at least 70% of the total course points.
When will I receive my Course Certificate?
Course certificates will be given to participants when they have scored more than 70% or more of the total course points. For example, if a course contains ten lessons each with ten questions, you will receive a course certificate when the instructor has awarded you at least 70 points (70% of the total course points).
There is no specified time that certificates will be awarded — instead, they are given to participants as and when they have answered all questions, even if this is long after the official end date.
How do I add my Certificate to my LinkedIn profile?
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to add your Interaction Design Foundation course(s) to your LinkedIn profile:
Log in to your LinkedIn account, then go to your profile.
Below your profile description, click on the button Add profile section, choose Recommended and then select Add license or certification.
3. In the following fields add:
Name – Course name
Issuing organization – The Interaction Design Foundation
Check the field “This credential does not expire”
Issue date - Input the date written on your certificate (e.g., May 2021)
Credential ID – Your membership ID number (it's written on your certificate)
Credential URL: Input the certificate URL provided on your course page
4. Click the Save button.
Congratulate yourself! Earning the certificate is a great accomplishment and now you can share it with the world!
How do I add the Interaction Design Foundation Membership Certificate to my LinkedIn Profile?
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to add your Interaction Design Foundation course(s) to your LinkedIn profile:
Log in to your LinkedIn account, then go to your profile.
Below your profile description, click on the button Add profile section, choose Recommended and then select Add license or certification.
3. In the following fields add:
Name – Membership Certificate
Issuing organization – The Interaction Design Foundation
Check the field “This credential does not expire”
Issue date - Input the date when you joined our community (e.g., May 2019)
Credential ID – Your membership ID number (it's written on your certificate)
Credential URL: Input the certificate URL provided on your profile page
4. Click the Save button.
It is as simple as that. Now, anyone who visits your profile can see your certificate!
How much will I have to pay for the courses?
After you pay for your membership, you can take as many courses as you want with no additional costs. There are no further charges on top of the membership fee.
Do you provide mostly beginners' or more advanced courses?
How long does it take to complete a course?
You will need approximately 5-8 hours to complete one lesson. Each course has between 3 and 16 lessons.
Once enrolled in a course, you will gain access to a new lesson each week, which you are free to complete without any deadlines and no end date, either.
I scored less than 70% in a course, so I didn't qualify for a certificate. Can I try again?
Yes! Everyone's learning journey looks different, and we'd never stop our members from trying again. To retake a course, just follow these steps:
1. Go to your profile and click on the relevant course you'd like to retake.
2. Underneath your progress bar, you'll see a phrase "UX Courses" with an arrow (>) pointing to a clickable landing page of that course. Click on that link.
3. Once on the landing page, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. You'll see a red button, which you can simply click to drop the course.
4. Head back to our main list of UX Courses, and re-enroll yourself in the course. You'll all set to try again!
Please note that when you drop a course, you will lose any answers and progress you submitted. We advise that you screenshot or save any answers you'd like to reuse.
In some cases, we can open up lessons for members who are retaking a course, so that they don't have to wait for familiar lessons to unlock each week. If you'd like us to do this for you, please get in touch with our support team at hello@interaction-design.org, and we can help you out.