design

Improved KPI reports by understanding thumbs

By Bernie | May 29, 2013

There’s a very interesting article in the Guardian on mobile software design for the real world. One of the points they make is, through watching phone users, the authors of Polar have established that 49% of users drive their phone apps with just one thumb. This is interesting to the app designers for all kinds…

Using KPIs to improve your business

By Bernie | February 11, 2013

I’m often asked how to create KPIs and measures. It’s not a short process, which is why most people end up brainstorming or using existing measures when they are tasked with doing this (check out this article – Six KPI Selection Traps to Avoid to see some of the other pitfalls). The good news is…

Devilish Donuts - A truly dreadful dashboard

KPI report design checklist. How good are your reports?

By Bernie | September 18, 2012

Introducing the KPI Design Report Checklist You may be trying to work out why your current reports aren’t working properly or wondering if you missed anything on your newly created masterpiece. This design checklist encourages you to consider each element of your design and to score it if you are feeling brave. You can use…

9 Things you should never do in Excel

By Bernie | January 24, 2012

Excel rules the roost when it comes to real-world management information. It’s easy to knock it, but millions of people find it quick and painless to use. There are some things you just should not do in Excel. Here’s my highly subjective list. Never….   Use Excel as a database. OK, I know you are…

Smooth bottoms and dashboard design

By Bernie | August 30, 2011

Most people don’t look at the bottom of their laptop. If they do then they will see one of two things: If it’s a Apple Mac the bottom with be smooth and (with the latest ones) completely featureless apart from four rounded rubber feet. If it’s a PC it will have little hatches, a Microsoft…

Harry Beck

When to leave things out and ignore people….

By Bernie | November 8, 2010

Sometimes things jar when you first see them. I see this a lot with dashboards that I help design (or redesign). People become very wedded to both the look – but more crucially they are wedded to the logic of how something is laid out. I think a brilliant example of this is the modern…

Lazy and dull

By Bernie | October 25, 2010

What are the dangers of using defaults on Excel and why do we put up with it?