What tips do you have for designing dashboards for mobile consumption?

While any dashboard can technically be viewed on mobile, designing specifically for mobile makes it much easier for users to quickly interpret data and take action—especially in the field.

Here are key tips to optimize dashboards for mobile use:

*Prioritize clarity over complexity*

• Keep each visualization focused on one key insight.
• Avoid cluttered visuals or too many charts.
• E.g., use Big Numbers instead of complex bar charts.

*Use visual hierarchy*

• Organize content using clear section headers.
• Emphasize important data through size, spacing, or font.
• E.g., group indicators by theme with bold section titles.

*Design for narrow screens*

• Make sure dashboards display well on small devices.
• Avoid horizontal scrolling and minimize table columns.
• E.g., reduce tables to 1–3 columns for legibility.

*Minimize interaction steps*

• Surface key insights immediately.
• Reduce the need for extra clicks, filters, or scrolling.
• E.g., put summary stats at the top; detailed breakdowns can go below.

*Encode meaning with color*

• Use familiar visual cues like red/yellow/green to show status or urgency.
• E.g., apply color rules to tables for quick interpretation.

*Remove the need for interpretation*

• Show clearly labeled, digestible metrics instead of abstract visuals.
• E.g., skip scatter plots—display ranked values or flags instead.

*Enable quick action*

• Highlight follow-up steps or data quality flags directly in the dashboard.
• E.g., add text tags like “Review Needed” or “Missing Data.”

Updated on: 24/09/2025