Design for comprehension

A dashboard should answer a small set of useful questions, not simply display every available metric. Clear headings and concise descriptions help readers understand what each section represents.

Color can reinforce a distinction, but it should not be the only way to communicate status. Text labels, patterns, and meaningful contrast make the same information available to more people.

Treat interaction as content

Keyboard users need a predictable focus order and visible focus states. Chart summaries and accessible names help assistive technology users understand the information conveyed visually.

Test with realistic data and different viewport sizes. Dense labels, long values, and empty states often reveal usability problems that a polished sample dataset conceals.