How do you avoid cluttering your dashboard with too many charts and widgets?

Based on my experience, it is also critical to also define the granularity of data you can drill down while using the dashboard. There is always this debate about providing high level data, often drilling down to the most granular level says a different story. While building a dashboard for a particular use-case it is essential to ensure false red flags are avoided and the true red flags are clearly demonstrated.

Your dashboard should present a (possible) story, not a narrative. It's not an editorial, it's a simple presentation of facts that should allow people to arrive at their own conclusion, driven by data.

Sometimes, a table may more easily convey information than a graph/chart. Try designing with multiple objects and ultimately choose whatever is going immediately speak to the viewer. More is less.

Picking the right charts and widgets is key to translating your data analysis into actionable insights. Your data, objective, and audience should guide your choice. Bar charts excel in comparing quantities, while line charts show trends over time. Filters and sliders offer interactive exploration. Simplicity fosters better comprehension - avoid unnecessary visual clutter. A compelling narrative can make your data visualizations more engaging and memorable. Regardless of your charts and widgets, ensure they serve your overall narrative and help guide your audience to the key insights. Your data visuals are not just a representation of facts but a means to deliver impactful insights. Make every chart count!

When organizing your data the golden ratio design concept based off of the Fibonacci sequence is helpful when looking at the flow people may be viewing your report.

I like to think about the organization of the dashboard and its importance based on first whom the audience is, and second what is the purpose of the dashboard, strategic, analytical, operational, tactical? I also make effort on developing an overall grid system leveraging the use of negative space to separate and frame content components. Your grid system should form your backbone and provide intersection of horizontal and vertical axes that enable the means to position and organize visual elements. Through this set up you should have multiple columns and horizontal flow lines that form distinct fields or spatial zones. You know you've reached success when there is a feeling of order and unity in a compositional layout.

A useful tip I try to follow when setting up new dashboards is making sure that every chart tells a story on its own. If a graph needs further explanation (whether through lines of text laid out in the dashboard or meetings with the client), then it most definitely needs improvement. The design of the chart needs to be clean and straight to the point. I find it best to focus on one specific metric in each graph rather than clumping a bunch of different variables in the same chart. Make sure that the information is conveyed in the clearest manner possible.

Always ensure colors, fonts, font styles, and font sizes are consistent throughout the report. Make sure things like graphs and maps are properly labeled. Triple check to ensure data elements in tables are labelled and numeric values are formatted properly.