From data dumps to data storytelling

We’ve all been there: you open a dashboard hoping for clarity… and instead, you're met with a wall of charts, filters, and KPIs. You scroll, click, and squint — and still walk away unsure of what matters. Despite all our tools, frameworks, and best intentions, the reality is this: We’re not great at making dashboards that actually work.

Too many dashboards today are data dumps — overloaded, unfocused, and hard to interpret. They’re built to showcase all the data we have, not to support the decisions people need to make. Too often, when dashboards fall flat, we reach for new tools or templates. And here’s the thing: This isn’t a tools problem. It’s a mindset problem.

It’s time we stop thinking like dashboard builders…And start thinking like data storytellers.

Creating effective dashboards is often seen as a technical challenge that relies heavily on advanced tools or software. While technology certainly plays a role, it is the mindset behind creating these dashboards that ultimately dictates their effectiveness. We need to shift how we think — not just how we design. I will share four shifts that need to happen:

1. From Output to Outcome

Every chart and KPI should serve a purpose. Dashboards should be decision tools, not digital reports. Instead of thinking  “What data should I show?” Ask: Why am I building this dashboard? “What decision does this dashboard need to support?”

2. From Building to Empathizing

Before you build anything, understand your audience: Who are they? What do they care about? What do they need right now?

The shift from data dumps to data storytelling is a shift from building for ourselves to building for our users. Let’s stop overwhelming stakeholders with complexity and start creating dashboards that communicate, inspire, and lead to action.

3. From All the Data to the Right Data

More data isn’t better. Better data is better. If everything is highlighted, nothing is highlighted. Prioritize what matters most and tell a story with your dashboard. Show less, but say more.

4. From Visuals to Visual Thinking

Every visual should align with the story you're trying to tell. This requires that you use visuals strategically:

• Use position and size to guide attention

• Use color with intention, not decoration

• Choose chart types that match your messag

And remember, better tools won’t fix the wrong mindset; the best dashboards don’t come from better software — they come from better thinking. The best dashboards don’t show everything.They show the right story.

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