Here's a secret that pro designers have been using forever: they don't start from scratch. They "borrow" ideas, mix them up, and create something new. And you can totally do the same thing with your dashboards.
Most of us jump straight into our BI tool and start throwing charts around like we're decorating a room blindfolded. We end up with dashboards that look like a data explosion happened. Numbers everywhere. Confusing layouts, and colors that make your eyes hurt.
But great dashboards aren't born from pure creativity. They're born from smart inspiration.
The Designer's Playbook (That Works for Data Too)
Graphic designers, web designers, and UX folks have a process that's been working for decades:
Look at what's already working
Take notes on the good stuff
Sketch their own version
Build it out
Sounds simple, right? That's because it is.
Step 1: Become a Dashboard Detective
Start hunting for dashboard inspiration in these goldmine spots:
Tableau Public: This is like the Instagram of dashboards. Search for anything – sales dashboards, HR analytics, marketing reports. You'll find thousands of examples from real analysts just like you.
Dribbble and Behance: These are where designers show off their best work. Search "dashboard UI" or "analytics dashboard" and prepare to have your mind blown by the clean, beautiful layouts.
Pinterest: Don't laugh. Pinterest has some seriously good dashboard inspiration boards. Search "data dashboard design" or "business intelligence layout."
Pro tip: Don't just look at dashboards in your industry. A marketing dashboard might have the perfect layout for your sales report, and a finance dashboard could inspire your HR analytics.
Step 2: Screenshot Like Your Job Depends on It
When you find layouts you like, don't just think "that's nice" and move on. Take screenshots and really study them:
Where do they put the big important numbers? (Usually at the top where your eye goes first)
How do they group related charts together? (Notice the invisible boxes that organize everything)
What colors do they use? (Spoiler: usually fewer than you think)
How much white space is there? (More than you'd expect. It's not wasted space, it's breathing room)
Create a folder on your computer called "Dashboard Inspiration" and start collecting. Trust me, future you will thank present you.
Step 3: Sketch Before You Click
This step separates the pros from the amateurs, and it takes maybe 10 minutes.
Grab whatever's handy – a notebook, the back of an envelope, PowerPoint, even a napkin. Draw boxes where things should go:
Big box at the top for your key metrics (your KPIs that everyone cares about most)
Medium boxes for your main charts
Small boxes for filters and controls
Don't forget space between everything
Think of it like planning where furniture goes in a room before you start moving heavy stuff around.
Here's what to consider while sketching:
What's the most important thing? Put it where people look first (top left, then top center)
What goes together? Group related charts near each other
How will people use this? Put filters where they're easy to find but not in the way
Step 4: Build with Your Blueprint
Now open up your BI tool and use your sketch as a rough guide. Don't stress about making it pixel-perfect. Your sketch is just the starting point.
As you build, you'll naturally make adjustments. Maybe that chart needs to be bigger than you thought, or the colors need tweaking, or the filters might work better on the left instead of the right.
That's totally normal. Your sketch got you 80% of the way there, and now you're fine-tuning the last 20%.
Why This Actually Works
Your brain is wired to recognize patterns. When you see a layout that "feels right," it's because it follows design principles that humans naturally respond to. Things like visual hierarchy, balance, and grouping.
By starting with layouts that already work, you're building on top of proven design psychology instead of trying to reinvent it from scratch.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't copy everything exactly – You're not trying to create a duplicate. You're borrowing the structure and making it work for your data.
Don't skip the sketching – I know it feels like an extra step, but it saves you hours of moving things around later.
Don't overthink the colors – Most great dashboards use 2-3 colors max. Pick one main color, one accent color, and stick with grays for everything else.
Don't cram everything in – If your dashboard needs a scroll bar, it's probably trying to do too much. Sometimes the best design decision is to split things into multiple dashboards.
You're Not Cheating
Some people feel weird about "stealing" design ideas. But here's the reality: every designer, artist, and creator builds on what came before them. There's a reason certain dashboard layouts show up everywhere. They work.
You're not copying someone's data or analysis. You're learning from their smart layout decisions and applying those lessons to your own work.
Your Action Plan
This week: Spend 30 minutes browsing Tableau Public or Dribbble for dashboard inspiration
Save 5-10 screenshots of layouts you like
Pick your next dashboard project (even a small one)
Sketch it out first using one of your inspiration layouts as a starting point
Build and see the difference
Great dashboards don't start from scratch. They start from inspiration.
So don't reinvent the layout. Steal it smart, make it yours, and watch your dashboards go from "meh" to "wow, who made this?"
Your data deserves a layout that makes it shine. And now you know exactly how to give it one.