SaaS dashboard design: best practices
A SaaS dashboard is the screen users land on after signing in. It should answer the question the user arrives with, such as what changed or what needs attention, and lead to the next action rather than display every available metric.
What a good one includes
The essentials:
- One clear primary question answered above the fold
- A small number of key metrics with comparison to a previous period
- A list or table of items that need action
- Useful empty states for new accounts with no data yet
- Navigation that stays consistent with the rest of the product
Design it with Fleck
Describe your product and Fleck generates the saas dashboard as part of a connected project, using your requirements, user flows and one shared design system, then audits it for UX issues.
How to design it
Define the user's first question
Decide what a returning user needs to know in the first five seconds.
Choose the few metrics that answer it
Show each with context, such as change since last week.
Add the action list
Surface the items that need a decision, with direct actions.
Design the empty and loading states
Give new users a clear first step instead of empty charts.
Common mistakes
- Charts with no comparison or context
- Every metric given equal weight
- Empty charts on day one
Frequently asked questions
How many metrics should a dashboard show?
Usually a handful. If everything is highlighted, nothing is. Move secondary metrics to dedicated report pages.