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Developing Dashboards that Deliver

September 2025
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Summary

Developing dashboards that deliver is essential for data visualization professionals, project managers, and data scientists. This session explores the discovery phase of dashboard creation, emphasizing the importance of understanding user needs before starting design and development. The discussion covers techniques for gathering insights from users, creating user stories, and using personas to guide the design process. The session also examines the use of tools like Mural for collaborative design and prototyping, and the iterative nature of dashboard development to ensure the final product meets user requirements.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding user needs is essential before designing dashboards.
  • User stories and personas help in aligning the dashboard with user requirements.
  • Tools like Mural, Miro and Figma are valuable for prototyping and collaborative design.
  • Iterative feedback and enhancement are important for successful dashboards.
  • Discovery techniques from market research and agile development can be applied to dashboard design.

Detailed Insights

Understanding User Needs

One of the primary focuses of the session is the importance of understanding user needs before starting dashboard design. Amanda Makulec emphasizes starting with open-ended questions to gather insights directly from users about their wants, needs, and pain points. This approach helps in identifying the different stakeholder groups and their specific requirements. For instance, in the context of a renewable energy dashboard, different user groups such as state government staff, utility providers, and solar energy advocates may have distinct needs. "A dashboard that's d ...
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esigned to do everything for everyone often fails to deliver," Amanda notes, highlighting the importance of targeted design.

Creating User Stories and Personas

User stories and personas are key tools in the dashboard design process. User stories refocus the design from what numbers to plot to why the data is needed. They follow a structure that includes the stakeholder's role, the information they need, and the action they intend to take. Personas, on the other hand, are humanized representations of user groups that help anchor the design team on the users' goals, motivations, and frustrations. These tools ensure that the dashboard aligns with the users' needs and helps in creating a more user-centric product.

Prototyping and Wireframing

Prototyping is a critical step in the dashboard development process. It involves creating wireframes that outline the overall information architecture of the dashboard. This step allows designers to test their assumptions and gather feedback from users before moving into full development. Tools like Figma and Miro are highlighted as valuable resources for creating interactive prototypes. Amanda advises, "Save time and money in the long run by validating assumptions early on rather than jumping directly into development."

Iterative Feedback and Enhancement

The session emphasizes the importance of iterative feedback and enhancement in the dashboard development process. Gathering insights from users about the existing dashboard and understanding their feedback is crucial for making informed improvements. This iterative process involves revisiting user stories, personas, and journey maps throughout the design and development phases. As Steve Wexler points out, "There's always a hiccup in some sense," emphasizing the need for flexibility and adaptability in the design process.

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