How to Design Dynamic & Interactive Excel Dashboards

Introduction

A dashboard is an organization or summary of data that allows for easy navigation and visualizations. Dashboards typically display real-time performance and regularly updated visuals, such as charts and graphs. Dynamic and interactive dashboards give users the tools to quickly analyze, discover, and track information that is relevant.

Definition of Dashboards

Dynamic and interactive dashboards are custom designed. They enable the user to view and interact with the data in multiple ways, making it easy to filter by specific criteria, export and import data, or display complex calculations and analytics. Dashboard designs serve to be both insightful and visually appealing, using colors, grids, and buttons to highlight key elements.

Benefits of Dynamic & Interactive Dashboards

• Create intuitive visuals quickly
• More efficient decision making
• Multiple drill-down capabilities
• Robust filtering capabilities
• Monitors and tracks performance
• Easy-to-use interface

Layering Visual Elements

The possibilities for creating dynamic and interactive Excel dashboards are endless. With a few clicks any data analyst can create visuals that powerfully and effectively communicate their message. When it comes to designing Excel dashboards, layering visual elements can be one of the most effective ways to impress the audience and make sure their attention is engaged. By carefully analyzing data and indicators, utilizing charts and graphs, and incorporating filters, designers can layer visual elements and enhance the look with colors and icons.

Assessing Data & Indicators

When it comes to layering visual elements, the first step is to assess the data and indicators. Decide what data points need to be displayed and the best indicators to measure them. Consider the different ways the data can be presented, such as numerical values or visual graphs. Once the data and indicators are determined, then you can start to layer the visual elements.

Utilizing Charts & Graphs

The best way to layer visual elements is to utilize charts and graphs. This will provide a compelling visual representation of the data and indicators, which can then be further enhanced by incorporating other visual elements, such as colors and icons. Charts and graphs also help to draw the viewer’s attention to important data points.

Incorporating Filters

Another way to layer visual elements is to incorporate filters. By adding filters, users can quickly modify their view of the data to identify trends and patterns that are specific to their interests. For example, a user can use a filter to only see data points related to a particular region or time period. This can make it easier to analyze the data and convey meaningful messages to the audience.

Enhancing Look with Colors & Icons

Finally, designers can enhance the look of the Excel dashboard by adding colors and icons. Colored backgrounds or elements lend the dashboard a visually pleasing aesthetic while icons can be used to highlight important data points or directional arrows.

By layering visual elements, designers can create dynamic and interactive Excel dashboards that engage the viewer and effectively communicate the message. By assessing data and indicators, utilizing charts and graphs, incorporating filters, and enhancing the look with colors and icons, designers have endless opportunities for creating beautiful and informative dashboards.

Choosing the Right Tools

One of the most important aspects of building interactive and dynamic Excel dashboards is choosing the right tools for the job. Different users have different requirements and need different levels of power and flexibility when it comes to designing their dashboards. In order to make sure your dashboard suits your specific needs, it is important to consider the available options carefully.

Excel and Add-ins

Creating an interactive and dynamic Excel dashboard begins with Microsoft Excel itself. Excel offers a huge range of features that can be used to build dynamic dashboards, including the ability to create powerful formulas, use data tables and pivot tables, weather the new features in Excel 2016 or use add-ins to customize your dashboard. Excel’s powerful features are a great way to get started creating basic dashboards, but may not be enough for more advanced use cases.

Spreadsheet & Database Integration

For more complex dashboards that require powerful data handling and manipulation capabilities, spreadsheet & database integration is the way to go. Database programs like Access & SQL Server offer a range of options for data integration, while other spreadsheet programs such as OpenOffice Calc and Google Sheets offer cloud-based data storage, integration and sharing capabilities. These tools give you the power and flexibility to create sophisticated dashboards with advanced data manipulation, filtering, and reporting capabilities.

No matter which tools you choose, they should all be used in conjunction with Excel to ensure that the dashboard is interactive and dynamic. Interactivity is the key to creating a dashboard that people can actually use and understand, so the tools you choose should support this goal.

Setting Up Dynamic Data Sources

Designing dynamic and interactive Excel dashboards requires careful data source configuration. Without proper data sources and connection configurations, your dashboards won’t be able to update automatically to produce the desired results. To ensure your Excel dashboards are dynamic and interactive, there are three important steps that must be taken: connecting to external data sources, utilizing macros, and crafting design calculation logic.

Connecting to External Sources

The first step in creating dynamic Excel dashboards is to connect to external data sources. This includes both external files and real-time data. For example, you may need to connect to a database or an application in order to access critical data points. You can do this by using the Get & Transform Data function in Microsoft Excel to establish a connection with the external source. Once the connection is established, the data will automatically update as new data is added.

Utilizing Macros

Macros are powerful programming tools that enable you to automate processes within your Excel dashboards. By leveraging macros, you can configure your dashboard to automatically refresh or update when certain conditions are met. This eliminates the need for manual updates, resulting in a more dynamic dashboard that can respond to various changes in data. Macros can also be used to create custom calculations for more detailed and accurate analysis.

Crafting Design Calculation Logic

The third step in creating dynamic and interactive Excel dashboards is to create calculation logic. This involves creating custom formulas and calculations that enable your dashboard to respond to changes in the data. You can use a variety of functions such as IF statements, loops, and array formulas to create dynamic dashboards that can continuously update in response to new data. This is a key step in ensuring your designt will be dynamic and interactive.

Automating Display and Reports

When it comes to designing dynamic and interactive Excel Dashboards, one way to go about it is to automate the display and the reports. This can make data manipulation and system interaction easier, providing you with faster and more detailed insights.

Setting Up Custom Views

One way to automate your dashboards is to set up custom views. This can be done in the ‘View options’ menu, where you can filter your data according to different criteria. For example, you can set up a view which only displays data related to the top sales of a particular product over a given time period. This will make your dashboards much more interactive and easier to understand.

Timer & Alerts

Another way to automate your dashboards is to set up alerts and timers. This allows you to set certain parameters which, when met, will trigger a specific response. For example, you can set a timer to alert you when a certain sales threshold is reached, or to notify you when a certain data value drops or increases beyond a predetermined amount.

Generating Reports

Finally, you can automate your dashboard by generating reports. Reports are extremely useful in understanding the current condition of an organization and the progress it is making. For example, you can generate a report that highlights the differences between current and previous data, or a report that shows the levels of customer satisfaction over a period of time.

Best Practices for Dashboards

Creating dynamic and interactive dashboards in Excel doesn't have to be complicated. You can make your data visualization reports user-friendly and visually appealing with just a few best practices.

Utilizing Segregation of Duties

One of the best methods for keeping track of your data is to use a segregation of duties. This will allow your data to be organized in a way that makes it easier to manage and actively connect to related data. Using user groups for different functions can help to manage, update and access data quickly. Setting up individual workspaces for each group can help with the segregation process, and will help you to keep track of any changes made to data.

Streamlining Navigation & Access

Creating tabs in the row or column on your Excel document can help to streamline navigation and access to data. This will allow you to easily toggle between different categories, visuals and data points that could be relevant to your dashboard. Having navigation tabs available will also help to keep the design of your dashboard clean and organized.

Building Consistent User Interfaces

Another important factor you should consider when designing your dynamic and interactive dashboard is to ensure all user interfaces are consistent. This includes making sure all visuals, text and images are displayed evenly and with the same design. This will help to create a visually pleasing dashboard and will make it easier for users to access, comprehend, and analyze the data.

Conclusion

Designing effective dynamic and interactive dashboards can be a complicated and lengthy process, but the rewards can be great. By properly planning, organizing, and crafting your data, you can create user friendly dashboards that provide insights to your stakeholders. Below is a recap of the main points discussed:

Benefits of Dynamic & Interactive Dashboards

Dynamic & interactive dashboards offer a wide range of benefits to stakeholders, such as enhanced usability and accessibility, dynamic visuals, connection to external data sources, simpler interpretation, and more.

Guidelines for Designing & Developing Dashboards

In order to ensure dynamic & interactive dashboards are effective, there are certain guidelines to follow, such as selecting the right visual for your data, incorporating animation & motion into the design, considering the application of user navigation and filters, and ensuring the appropriate line of sight.

Recap of Tactics for Building Dashboards

Creating a dynamic & interactive dashboard can be achieved by utilizing key tools and frameworks, such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, & Qlik, Excel, and online dashboarding services. Furthermore, focusing on the end-user experience and aiming to eliminate redundant and manual tasks, further strengthens the purpose of the dashboard.

With the correct design and development tactics in place, dynamic & interactive dashboards have the potential to decrease manual work, provide enhanced insights and meaningful collaboration, and secure accurate analysis of business data to drive successful outcomes.