BMC Data Academy
10 Data Visualization Sins That Make Your Dashboard Look Unprofessional
A dashboard is not about displaying more data. It is about helping people understand information and make better decisions.
→ Swipe to discover the mistakes
Sin #1
The “Chart for Everything” Sin
Not every data point needs a chart.
Common Mistakes
❌Adding visuals without a purpose
❌Choosing charts because they look attractive
Better Approach
✅Start with the question you want to answer
✅Choose the visual that communicates the answer best
Insight first. Chart second.
Sin #2
The “Dashboard Overload” Sin
More charts do not mean more insights.
₦12M
Sales
34
Orders
89%
Satisfaction
4.2
Rating
156
Leads
Common Mistakes
❌Too many KPIs
❌Crowded dashboard pages
❌No clear focus
Better Approach
✅Highlight what matters
✅Remove unnecessary visuals
A good dashboard guides attention.
Sin #3
The “Rainbow Dashboard” Sin
Colors should communicate, not decorate.
Common Mistakes
❌Too many colors
❌No consistent meaning
❌Poor contrast
Better Approach
✅Use a simple color palette
✅Use colors to highlight important insights
Design with purpose.
Sin #4
The “Decoration Over Data” Sin
A dashboard is a business tool, not an artwork.
Avoid
❌Excessive icons
❌Fancy backgrounds
❌Unnecessary animations
Focus On
✅Clarity
✅Readability
✅Decision-making
Function beats decoration.
Sin #5
The “Missing Context” Sin
Numbers without context create confusion.
Weak Dashboard
Sales = ₦50M
Better Dashboard
Sales = ₦50M
↑ 20% vs last year ↓ 5% below target
Add
✅Trends
✅Benchmarks
✅Targets
Context creates meaning.
Sin #6
The “Wrong Chart, Wrong Message” Sin
Choosing the wrong chart can hide the truth.
Bar
Line
Scatter
Histogram
Bar Chart → Compare categories
Line Chart → Show trends over time
Scatter Plot → Show relationships
Histogram → Show distribution
The right chart tells the right story.
Sin #7
The “Unreadable Dashboard” Sin
A dashboard fails if users cannot read it.
Avoid
❌Tiny fonts
❌Too many labels
❌Crowded layouts
Improve
✅Clear hierarchy
✅Proper spacing
✅Simple design
Clarity wins.
Sin #8
The “No Storytelling” Sin
A dashboard should answer the 3W Lens:
1
What happened?
Describe the current state
2
Why did it happen?
Explain the drivers
3
What should we do next?
Recommend actions
Turn data into decisions.
Sin #9
The “No Validation” Sin
A beautiful dashboard can still be wrong.
Always Check
✅Data sources
✅Calculations
✅Filters
✅Totals
💡 Have someone else spot-check before publishing.
Accuracy builds trust.
Final Thought
Great dashboards are not measured by the number of charts.
They are measured by the quality of decisions they enable.
Data visualization is not about showing more data.
It is about revealing the right insight.
It is about revealing the right insight.
Which sin are you guilty of? Comment below.
BMC Data Academy
Excel | Power BI | SQL | Python | Data Analytics
Excel | Power BI | SQL | Python | Data Analytics
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