dashboard-design

name	dashboard-design
description	Data dashboard and admin panel design patterns for information-dense interfaces. Trigger: user asks to "build a dashboard", "create an admin panel", "design analytics", "make a data view", "build a settings page", "create a table view", "design a CRM", "build an internal tool", or any data-heavy interface work.
license	MIT

Dashboard Design

Pre-Flight: Check Design Context

Before generating dashboard code:

1. Use get_design_context to check for existing design tokens, component libraries, or dashboard frameworks.
2. If a Figma URL is provided, pull screenshots and metadata to match the design.
3. Determine: What data is being shown? Who is the user? What actions do they need to take?

---

1. Layout Patterns

Pattern A: Sidebar + Main Content (Most Common)

<div class="flex h-screen bg-gray-50">
  <!-- Sidebar -->
  <aside class="w-64 bg-white border-r border-gray-200 flex flex-col">
    <!-- Logo -->
    <div class="h-16 flex items-center px-6 border-b border-gray-100">
      <img src="/logo.svg" alt="App" class="h-8" />
    </div>
    <!-- Navigation -->
    <nav class="flex-1 py-4 px-3 space-y-1 overflow-y-auto">
      <!-- Active item -->
      <a href="#" class="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg
        bg-indigo-50 text-indigo-700 font-medium text-sm">
        <svg class="w-5 h-5"><!-- icon --></svg>
        Dashboard
      </a>
      <!-- Inactive item -->
      <a href="#" class="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg
        text-gray-600 hover:bg-gray-100 hover:text-gray-900 text-sm transition-colors">
        <svg class="w-5 h-5"><!-- icon --></svg>
        Analytics
      </a>
      <!-- Section header -->
      <div class="pt-4 pb-1 px-3 text-xs font-semibold text-gray-400 uppercase tracking-wider">
        Settings
      </div>
    </nav>
    <!-- User section at bottom -->
    <div class="p-4 border-t border-gray-100">
      <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
        <img src="/avatar.jpg" alt="" class="w-8 h-8 rounded-full" />
        <div class="text-sm">
          <div class="font-medium text-gray-900">Jane Doe</div>
          <div class="text-gray-500 text-xs">Admin</div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </aside>

  <!-- Main content -->
  <main class="flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
    <!-- Top bar -->
    <header class="h-16 bg-white border-b border-gray-200 flex items-center
      justify-between px-6 sticky top-0 z-10">
      <h1 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">Dashboard</h1>
      <div class="flex items-center gap-4">
        <!-- Search, notifications, profile -->
      </div>
    </header>
    <!-- Content area -->
    <div class="p-6">
      <!-- Dashboard content here -->
    </div>
  </main>
</div>

Sidebar Behavior

• Desktop (lg+): Always visible, 240–280px wide.
• Tablet (md): Collapsible to icon-only (64px) with tooltip labels.
• Mobile (sm): Hidden, opens as overlay with backdrop.

Pattern B: Top Nav + Grid

• Best for simpler dashboards with fewer navigation items.
• Horizontal nav bar at top, content fills below.
• Use tabs or pill navigation for sub-sections.

---

2. Data Cards (KPI Tiles)

Standard Stat Card

<div class="bg-white rounded-xl border border-gray-200 p-6">
  <div class="flex items-center justify-between">
    <span class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-500">Total Revenue</span>
    <span class="w-10 h-10 rounded-lg bg-emerald-50 text-emerald-600
      flex items-center justify-center">
      <svg class="w-5 h-5"><!-- dollar icon --></svg>
    </span>
  </div>
  <div class="mt-3">
    <span class="text-3xl font-bold text-gray-900">$45,231</span>
  </div>
  <div class="mt-2 flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm">
    <span class="text-emerald-600 font-medium flex items-center gap-0.5">
      <svg class="w-4 h-4"><!-- arrow-up icon --></svg>
      12.5%
    </span>
    <span class="text-gray-400">vs last month</span>
  </div>
</div>

Card Grid Layout

<div class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-4 gap-4 md:gap-6">
  <!-- 4 stat cards -->
</div>

Card Variants

• With sparkline: Add a small inline chart below the number.
• With progress bar: Show completion toward a goal.
• With mini table: Top 3 items listed below the stat.
• Negative trend: Use red with down-arrow for declining metrics.

---

3. Chart Selection Guide

Data Type	Best Chart	When to Use
Trend over time	Line chart	Revenue, users, performance over days/months
Comparison	Bar chart	Compare categories, A/B results
Composition	Pie / Donut	Budget breakdown, traffic sources (max 5 slices)
Volume over time	Area chart	Bandwidth, cumulative metrics
Distribution	Histogram	Age ranges, price ranges
Relationship	Scatter plot	Correlation between two variables
Progress	Progress bar / Gauge	Goal completion, quotas
Ranking	Horizontal bar	Top pages, top products

Chart Design Rules

1. Title every chart with what it shows, not how to read it.
2. Label axes clearly. Include units.
3. Limit colors to 5–6 max. Use your primary palette.
4. Start Y-axis at zero for bar charts. Line charts can have non-zero baselines.
5. Add tooltips for exact values on hover.
6. Use grid lines sparingly — light dashed lines, not solid.
7. Responsive: Charts should resize, not overflow.

Chart Color Palette

:root {
  --chart-1: oklch(65% 0.2 265);   /* primary blue */
  --chart-2: oklch(70% 0.2 165);   /* teal */
  --chart-3: oklch(75% 0.2 320);   /* pink */
  --chart-4: oklch(80% 0.15 80);   /* amber */
  --chart-5: oklch(65% 0.15 145);  /* green */
}

---

4. Table Design

Full-Featured Data Table

<div class="bg-white rounded-xl border border-gray-200 overflow-hidden">
  <!-- Table header / toolbar -->
  <div class="px-6 py-4 border-b border-gray-100 flex items-center justify-between">
    <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
      <h2 class="font-semibold text-gray-900">Recent Orders</h2>
      <span class="bg-gray-100 text-gray-600 text-xs font-medium px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full">
        2,847
      </span>
    </div>
    <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
      <!-- Search input -->
      <input type="text" placeholder="Search..."
        class="text-sm border border-gray-200 rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 w-56
        focus:border-indigo-500 focus:ring-1 focus:ring-indigo-500/20" />
      <!-- Filter button -->
      <button class="text-sm text-gray-600 border border-gray-200 rounded-lg
        px-3 py-1.5 hover:bg-gray-50 flex items-center gap-1.5">
        <svg class="w-4 h-4"><!-- filter icon --></svg>
        Filters
      </button>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Table -->
  <table class="w-full text-sm">
    <thead>
      <tr class="border-b border-gray-100 text-left">
        <th class="px-6 py-3 text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">
          <button class="flex items-center gap-1 hover:text-gray-700">
            Customer
            <svg class="w-3 h-3"><!-- sort icon --></svg>
          </button>
        </th>
        <th class="px-6 py-3 text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">
          Status
        </th>
        <th class="px-6 py-3 text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider
          text-right">
          Amount
        </th>
        <th class="px-6 py-3 w-12"></th>
      </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody class="divide-y divide-gray-50">
      <tr class="hover:bg-gray-50 transition-colors">
        <td class="px-6 py-4">
          <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
            <img src="/avatar.jpg" alt="" class="w-8 h-8 rounded-full" />
            <div>
              <div class="font-medium text-gray-900">Jane Cooper</div>
              <div class="text-gray-500 text-xs">[e-mail]</div>
            </div>
          </div>
        </td>
        <td class="px-6 py-4">
          <span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full
            text-xs font-medium bg-emerald-50 text-emerald-700">
            <span class="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-emerald-500"></span>
            Completed
          </span>
        </td>
        <td class="px-6 py-4 text-right font-medium text-gray-900">$2,500.00</td>
        <td class="px-6 py-4">
          <button class="text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600">
            <svg class="w-5 h-5"><!-- dots icon --></svg>
          </button>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>

  <!-- Pagination -->
  <div class="px-6 py-4 border-t border-gray-100 flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
    <span class="text-gray-500">Showing 1-10 of 2,847</span>
    <div class="flex gap-1">
      <button class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border border-gray-200 text-gray-600
        hover:bg-gray-50 disabled:opacity-50" disabled>Previous</button>
      <button class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-indigo-600 text-white">1</button>
      <button class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border border-gray-200 text-gray-600
        hover:bg-gray-50">2</button>
      <button class="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border border-gray-200 text-gray-600
        hover:bg-gray-50">Next</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

Table Design Rules

• Align numbers right, text left.
• Use row hover highlight (hover:bg-gray-50).
• Sticky header on scroll (sticky top-0).
• Zebra striping is optional; subtle dividers are preferred.
• Row actions: icon button (three dots) that opens a dropdown.

---

5. Status Indicators

Badge Styles

<!-- Success / Active -->
<span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs
  font-medium bg-emerald-50 text-emerald-700">
  <span class="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-emerald-500"></span>Active
</span>

<!-- Warning / Pending -->
<span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs
  font-medium bg-amber-50 text-amber-700">
  <span class="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-amber-500"></span>Pending
</span>

<!-- Error / Failed -->
<span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs
  font-medium bg-red-50 text-red-700">
  <span class="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-red-500"></span>Failed
</span>

<!-- Neutral / Draft -->
<span class="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-0.5 rounded-full text-xs
  font-medium bg-gray-100 text-gray-600">
  <span class="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-gray-400"></span>Draft
</span>

Progress Bars

<div class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-full h-2">
  <div class="bg-indigo-600 h-2 rounded-full transition-all duration-500"
    style="width: 65%"></div>
</div>

---

6. Dark Mode Dashboard

Dashboards often look better in dark mode — it reduces eye strain for data-heavy views.

Surface Hierarchy (Dark)

:root[data-theme="dark"] {
  --bg-base: oklch(15% 0.01 265);      /* page background */
  --bg-surface: oklch(20% 0.01 265);   /* cards */
  --bg-elevated: oklch(25% 0.01 265);  /* dropdowns, modals */
  --border: oklch(30% 0.01 265);       /* borders */
  --text-primary: oklch(95% 0 0);      /* headings */
  --text-secondary: oklch(70% 0 0);    /* body text */
  --text-muted: oklch(50% 0 0);        /* captions */
}

Rules

• Elevation is shown through lighter surfaces, not shadows.
• Reduce chart color saturation by ~15%.
• Use semi-transparent borders (oklch(100% 0 0 / 0.08)).
• Active sidebar item: lighter background, not colored.

---

7. Real-Time Data Indicators

Live Pulse Dot

<span class="relative flex h-2.5 w-2.5">
  <span class="animate-ping absolute inline-flex h-full w-full rounded-full
    bg-emerald-400 opacity-75"></span>
  <span class="relative inline-flex rounded-full h-2.5 w-2.5 bg-emerald-500"></span>
</span>

Last Updated Timestamp

<span class="text-xs text-gray-400 flex items-center gap-1.5">
  <span class="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-emerald-500"></span>
  Live — Updated 3s ago
</span>

Auto-Refresh Pattern

• Show a subtle countdown or progress bar before refresh.
• Animate changed values (flash green for increase, red for decrease).
• Never refresh the entire page — update individual data points.

---

8. Dense Information Without Clutter

Techniques

1. Progressive disclosure: Show summary, expand for details.
2. Tabbed sections: Don't show everything at once.
3. Collapsible panels: Let users hide what they don't need.
4. Tooltips over labels: Save space, add context on hover.
5. Consistent spacing: Use a strict 4px grid (4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48).
6. Smaller base font: Dashboard body text can be 13–14px.
7. Monospace for data: Numbers in tables use tabular-nums.

.data-table td {
  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
  font-feature-settings: "tnum";
}

---

9. Responsive Dashboard Layouts

Breakpoint Strategy

• Mobile (< 768px): Single column. Cards stack. Tables become card lists. Sidebar hidden.
• Tablet (768–1024px): 2-column grid. Sidebar collapsed to icons. Simplified charts.
• Desktop (1024px+): Full layout. Sidebar expanded. Multi-column grids.
• Wide (1536px+): Add extra column or widen content area. Don't stretch beyond 1440px max.

Mobile Table Alternative

On mobile, convert tables to stacked cards:

<!-- Desktop: table row -->
<!-- Mobile: card with label-value pairs -->
<div class="sm:hidden bg-white rounded-xl border border-gray-200 p-4 space-y-2">
  <div class="flex justify-between">
    <span class="text-gray-500 text-sm">Customer</span>
    <span class="font-medium text-gray-900 text-sm">Jane Cooper</span>
  </div>
  <div class="flex justify-between">
    <span class="text-gray-500 text-sm">Status</span>
    <span class="bg-emerald-50 text-emerald-700 text-xs px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full">Active</span>
  </div>
  <div class="flex justify-between">
    <span class="text-gray-500 text-sm">Amount</span>
    <span class="font-medium text-gray-900 text-sm">$2,500.00</span>
  </div>
</div>

---

Dashboard Design Checklist

• Sidebar navigation with clear active state and section grouping
• KPI cards at top with trend indicators
• Charts have titles, labels, and tooltips
• Tables have sort, search, filter, and pagination
• Status badges use consistent color coding
• Responsive: works on tablet and mobile
• Loading skeletons for all async data
• Empty states for tables and charts with no data
• Dark mode considered (especially for monitoring dashboards)
• Numbers use tabular-nums for alignment