When I’m starting a new dashboard, I usually make some sketches to help me think about what charts to include, how I’m going to lay it out, how the pages are going to relate to each other, etc. The problem is that my sketches aren’t so good. I end up scratching out a lot and then not being able to interpret it later. Recently, I started using Canva whiteboards for my mock-ups. This free tool has a bunch of features that I like:
Large virtual “canvases” with the ability to zoom in on particular items or zoom way out to see the whole thing.
Various whiteboard templates which can easily be adapted to data dashboard design or just start with a blank board.
Virtual post-it notes, lines, arrows, circles and other elements to annotate the design.
Lots of free chart images to use as placeholders.
The upload feature which allows you to bring in images of dashboards you might want to riff on.
The ability to share and collaborate with others on a design.
Check out this mock-up I created which includes design ideas for various pages of a data dashboard.
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