Geckoboard Dashboard Design Best Practices: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated at: 22/06/2025

Geckoboard dashboards are powerful tools, but their effectiveness hinges on good design. This step-by-step guide reveals best practices for creating clear, insightful, and action-driving dashboards. Learn how to choose the right metrics, design intuitive layouts, and optimize for readability. Transform data overload into actionable intelligence with these proven techniques. Let's build a better Geckoboard dashboard, together!

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Define Dashboard Purpose and Objectives

    • Define the purpose of your dashboard and its objectives.
    Define the purpose of your dashboard and its objectives.
    Define Dashboard Purpose and Objectives

  2. Prioritize and Position Key Metrics

    • Prioritize key metrics and place the most important numbers in the top left corner.
    • Remove redundant or less important widgets to declutter the dashboard.
    Remove redundant or less important widgets to declutter the dashboard. Remove redundant or less important widgets to declutter the dashboard.
    Prioritize and Position Key Metrics

  3. Ensure Visual Consistency

    • Maintain visual consistency using the same chart type for similar metrics.
    Maintain visual consistency using the same chart type for similar metrics.
    Ensure Visual Consistency

  4. Improve Readability and Clarity

    • Use clear and concise titles for widgets, avoiding lengthy or unclear labels.
    • Round numbers to improve readability and avoid excessive decimal places.
    • Use abbreviations for familiar terms to shorten titles and improve clarity.
    Use abbreviations for familiar terms to shorten titles and improve clarity. Use abbreviations for familiar terms to shorten titles and improve clarity. Use abbreviations for familiar terms to shorten titles and improve clarity.
    Improve Readability and Clarity

  5. Organize and Group Metrics

    • Group related metrics together for better visual organization (e.g., all MMR metrics in one section).
    • Adjust widget sizes and spacing to create a balanced and visually appealing layout.
    Adjust widget sizes and spacing to create a balanced and visually appealing layout. Adjust widget sizes and spacing to create a balanced and visually appealing layout.
    Organize and Group Metrics

  6. Enhance Data Visualization with Comparisons

    • Utilize comparison visualizations (percentage changes, goal tracking) to show progress towards targets.
    Utilize comparison visualizations (percentage changes, goal tracking) to show progress towards targets.
    Enhance Data Visualization with Comparisons
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Tips

  • Focus on the most crucial metrics relevant to your dashboard's goals.
  • The top left corner is prime real estate; reserve it for the most important metrics.
  • Use clear and concise titles, avoiding lengthy labels and unnecessary details.
  • Round numbers to make data easier to understand at a glance.
  • Group similar metrics together for better visual organization.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Information Overload

Reason: Including too many metrics and visualizations on a single dashboard makes it cluttered and difficult to interpret key insights.
Solution: Prioritize the most crucial metrics and use a smaller number of clear, concise visualizations.

2. Ignoring Visual Hierarchy

Reason: Failing to use size, color, and placement effectively means important data points are not easily noticed, leading to misinterpretations.
Solution: Employ visual hierarchy principles to guide the viewer's eye to the most important information first.

FAQs

How many dashboards should I create for my team?
The number of dashboards depends on your team's needs and the complexity of your data. Start with one comprehensive dashboard for key metrics, then consider creating smaller, more focused dashboards for specific teams or projects. Avoid overwhelming users with too much information at once.
What are the best visualization types for Geckoboard?
The best visualization depends on the data. Use line charts for trends, bar charts for comparisons, number displays for key metrics, and gauges for progress toward goals. Prioritize clarity and easy interpretation.
How do I ensure my Geckoboard dashboard is easily understood by everyone?
Use clear and concise labels, consistent color schemes, and avoid unnecessary clutter. Keep the design simple and focus on the most important metrics. Consider providing a short legend or tooltip explaining any complex data points.