Topic: UI Design Methodologies - a look at designing Executive Dashboards and Excel 2007
User interface design methodologies, whether for enterprise dashboards or software packages, should follow the same basic steps and principles. Of course, they should be user-centered to ensure that the needs of the end user are kept foremost in mind, but the design methodology should also allow for exploration of current best practices and design influences. This is especially true in software applications where being on the cutting edge is a selling point.
My typical design steps for dashboards or any other type of user interface are:
Does this methodology work? Yes. Do dashboard design teams follow it? Obviously not! A recent comment by a Dashboard Spy reader rings true - After viewing the collection of executive dashboards at enterprise-dashboard.com, (no easy task - as there are 1000 dashboards there) , the reader stated his reaction bluntly - that, quite simply, the designs of current dashboards are awful.
User interface design methodologies, whether for enterprise dashboards or software packages, should follow the same basic steps and principles. Of course, they should be user-centered to ensure that the needs of the end user are kept foremost in mind, but the design methodology should also allow for exploration of current best practices and design influences. This is especially true in software applications where being on the cutting edge is a selling point.
My typical design steps for dashboards or any other type of user interface are:
- Understand the User Requirements
- Survey the landscape of existing design solutions to identify best practices
- Explore solutions with low fidelity mockups
- Wireframe scenarios for user feedback
- Create high fidelity interactive prototypes
- Iterate through this cycle of envisioning before proceeding to development
Does this methodology work? Yes. Do dashboard design teams follow it? Obviously not! A recent comment by a Dashboard Spy reader rings true - After viewing the collection of executive dashboards at enterprise-dashboard.com, (no easy task - as there are 1000 dashboards there) , the reader stated his reaction bluntly - that, quite simply, the designs of current dashboards are awful.