13.7 Layout and Design Principles
| Principle | What to do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Top-left is read first | Most important KPI cards across the top, left to right | Putting the filter panel or logo in the most valuable spot |
| Z pattern | Cards → trend → breakdowns → detail table | Random placement |
| One screen | Fit to one laptop screen (about columns A:W, rows 1:35 at 100% zoom) | Scrolling dashboards |
| Few colours | One brand colour + grey; red/green only for bad/good | Every series a different colour |
| Consistent format | Same font, same number format (₹ L), same card size | Mixing ₹4950000 and ₹49.5 L |
| White space | Equal gaps between objects | Everything squeezed together |
| Label the context | Title, data period, "Data up to 31-03-2026, 11:59 PM IST", source note | No date – user doesn't know if it is fresh |
| Accessible | Do not rely on colour alone (add ▲/▼), enough contrast | Red/green only |
Worked example – layout sketch.
| Columns B–E | Columns F–W | |
|---|---|---|
| Rows 1–3 | Title: "Blinkit Maharashtra – Sales Dashboard" | Data date, fictional-data note |
| Rows 4–9 | Slicers: City, Platform | KPI cards: Net Sales · Orders · AOV · Cancellation % · Avg Delivery |
| Rows 10–21 | Slicer: Category | Line chart: daily sales (full width) |
| Rows 22–35 | Timeline | City bar chart · Category bar · Platform doughnut |
Steps in Excel – finishing the layout
- View › Zoom › 100%; check the dashboard on a normal laptop screen.
- Select all charts/shapes (Home › Editing › Find & Select › Selection Pane) and rename objects meaningfully (
chtCity,cardSales). - Right-click each chart › Format Chart Area › Properties › Don't move or size with cells so hiding columns doesn't squash them.
- Put the insertion cell in A1 and save – the file then opens at the top.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
Khup students dashboard la "sundar" banvnyasathi background image, logo aani khup rang vapartat – aani mahatvacha KPI khali kontyatri kopryat jaato. Lakshat theva: sagla mahatvacha top-left la, ek screen madhe, aani ekach highlight rang. Dashboard vr "Data up to" date nakki liha – manager la aadhi hech vicharaycha asta.
Practice task
Rearrange your dashboard to match the sketch above, add a data-date line and a fictional-data note, and make sure it fits one screen at 100% zoom without scrolling.