10 Tips for Creating Effective & Beautiful Excel Dashboards

Introduction

Excel is one of the most widely used software applications in the world. Whether you work in finance, business, sales, marketing, engineering, or education,; chances are you have used Excel to some degree. But, Excel is capable of much more than just basic data management.

By taking advantage of the powerful features available in Excel, you can create attractive and effective dashboards that will help you make sense of your data and take better informed decisions. In this post, we will offer 10 tips on how to create effective and beautiful Excel dashboards.

Cleaning Data

Armed with a neat, organized dataset, Excel dashboards face fewer issues when developing, and data points are easier to interpret. To ensure you begin with a clean dataset, there are a number of steps you should take before building your dashboard.

A. Remove Any Unnecessary Columns or Rows

Start by ensuring that there are no unnecessary columns or rows of data in the spreadsheet. Removing any extra data points and only keeping relevant ones allows for easier analysis of the dataset itself.

B. Use Data Filters to Reduce the Scope of the Dashboard

Excel data filters allow you to easily sort, filter, or re-organize specific information within the spreadsheet. With helpful sorting and filtering capabilities, you can reduce the amount of data points you are dealing with, thereby simplifying the dashboard’s view. This is especially helpful for dashboards that tend to contain large amounts of data.

C. Add Columns and Rows as Necessary

To gain the most accurate picture of the data points, it can be necessary to add additional columns and rows to the spreadsheet. Whether it’s adding columns to break down data by year, month, or other characteristics, or adding more rows to account for missing data points, doing this in a timely manner helps to streamline the dashboard

D. Check That All Formulas Used are Correct

Formulas are key components of Excel dashboards, as they present values and data comparison metrics in easy-to-grasp metrics. Before building the dashboard, it’s essential to go through any formulas used and make sure they are correct. Validate the formulas to ensure the numbers generated are correct, and make adjustments as needed before beginning the dashboard.

Layout & Design

Design plays a vital role in how a dashboard looks and performs. An effective design not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also effectively conveys the message of the data. Here are some tips on how you can create an aesthetically pleasing and effective dashboard:

A. Choose an appropriate color theme

The first decision to make is the color scheme. To start, it should be one that flatters the color pallet of your brand. Then, consider how various colors work together to create a visually appealing presentation. Choose two to three accent colors that'll bring more focus to the key points of your dashboard and create balance in your visual elements. Also, consider incorporating ultraviolet or neutrals to diminish strong shades and create cohesion.

B. Utilize the customization features

The Excel dashboard builder gives users a way of controlling the look and feel of the dashboard. Drag and drop elements on the page, or directly input custom HTML, can help achieve the desired look. Users can also modify the dashboard's overall font size, align, and spacing to match their preferences. Additionally, the dashboard can be customized by adding images, videos, and extra background shapes.

C. Use appropriate font sizes

The font size you choose plays an important role in how easy it is to read and understand your dashboard. Different platforms and devices require different measurements. Generally, going for larger fonts and standard font size of 12pt is recommended. Having the same font type throughout the entire dashboard helps create a consistent design. Additionally, it helps to make the dashboard look neater and easily distinguishable.

D. Mix data and images

Creating custom images or using stock photos on your dashboard will add visual appeal to it. Also, images help convey concepts or ideas in a more efficient way. Using visuals also helps to capture people’s attention when there is a lot of data to process. However, you should avoid simply duplicating the text into an image. Instead, focus on creating infographics to reduce the cognitive load on the user. Additionally, try to keep the visuals and text in harmony.

Choosing the Right Charts

Excel dashboards can be more effective and visually appealing when the most appropriate charts are used to represent the data. There are several tips to consider when deciding which charts to use.

A. Utilize a Variety of Charts

When creating an Excel dashboard, it can be helpful to use several different types of charts. Using different charts or combinations of charts can serve to emphasize certain aspects of the data while still keeping the dashboard organized and easy to read. It also helps to mix up the visuals by using different colors and formats.

B. Consider Which Charts Best Display the Data

When deciding which charts to include, it is important to consider what type of data is being analyzed and which charts are best for that purpose. For example, line charts are better for displaying time-series data, whereas bar charts can be used to compare values of different categories side-by-side. Combination charts are also useful for displaying multiple sets of data in the same chart.

C. Utilize Interactive Charts

Interactive charts allow for more dynamic visualizations and can make it easier for viewers to interact with the data. With interactive charts, viewers can hover over points to display more information or click to drill down into deeper levels of data. This can be especially helpful when requesting certain data points or creating comparison charts.

D. Make Sure Any Charts are Up-to-Date with the Latest Data

Finally, it is important to ensure that any charts in the Excel dashboard are updated with the latest data. This will ensure that the analysis is accurate and reliable, and it is often a good idea to double-check that any charts are correctly reflecting the most up-to-date information.

Simplicity & Functionality

When it comes to creating an effective and beautiful Excel dashboard, simplicity and functionality should be top of mind. With dashboards, less is often more, so it is important to keep the visual elements minimal and clean. Here are some tips for ensuring your dashboard is both beautiful and efficiently functions:

A. Keep the dashboard simple and easy to read

The first step to creating an effective and beautiful dashboard is to keep the visuals clean and simple. Too many graphics, fonts, or other elements can make it difficult to interpret the data. Whenever possible, opt for icons, simple shapes and concise labels that help explain the data. This can go a long way in making your dashboard look more professional and less cluttered.

B. Make sure all relevant data is present

It is essential to include all the data that is important to the user. Too little or too much data can both limit the functionality of an Excel dashboard. If possible, include data that allows users to drill down further into the information if they want to. This can allow them to customize their view and make the dashboard more useful.

C. Ensure the dashboard is able to be scrolled and resized

Users should be able to interact with their dashboard without having to use a mouse or other device. That is why it is essential to make sure that the dashboard is able to scroll and resize when needed. This helps ensure that all the relevant data is viewable and that the dashboard is easy to use.

D. Include a legend for clarification

In order for a dashboard to be effective, users must be able to interpret the graphics and information it displays. In order to do this, it is important to provide a legend with the dashboard. This can help ensure users are able to accurately interpret the data by providing labels for different elements of the dashboard.

Presentation

Creating effective Excel dashboards requires special attention to presentation. In addition to being accurate, reliable and easy to interpret, dashboards should also be visually appealing in order to make an impact on the viewer. Here are some tips to help make your dashboard aesthetically pleasing:

Utilize Data Tables

Data tables offer a concise and efficient way to present a lot of information in a very clear and concise manner. By using tables, viewers can scan and compare data quickly, obtaining the information they need more easily.

Add Titles to All Charts

Adding titles to all charts is an important step in creating an effective Excel dashboard. Utilize titles to provide a description of the information that the charts portray in order to make them easier to understand.

Group Related Information Together

When creating an Excel dashboard, it can be beneficial to group related information together. This will allow viewers to easily compare and contrast related data points for a better understanding.

Zoom In to Assist With Clarity

If the information presented in the Excel dashboard is too dense or difficult to interpret, zooming in can help to make the data more visible and easier to understand. It is often useful to zoom in to showcase key data points in an Excel dashboard.

Conclusion

Creating effective and beautiful Excel dashboards can be a challenging task. However, when done correctly they can be powerful tools in unlocking your datasets and presenting them in a meaningful way. This blog post outlined some key tips to consider when designing a dashboard that will help you make an impact both with design and usability. Here are the 10 tips we discussed in this blog post:

• Understand the purpose of your Report
• Choose the Right Charts
• Use Professional Color Palettes
• Group Data logically
• Align Certain Components
• Keep Text Concise
• Highlight Essential Data Points
• Show Trends Clearly
• Be Creative with Shapes
• Keep the Dashboard Uncluttered

Following these guidelines will allow you to create a stunning and effective Excel dashboard that can help your viewers make informed decisions quickly. If you would like to explore more options for creating powerful visuals with Excel dashboard, Microsoft Excel support offers an array of resources on the subject to guide you.