Designing Dashboards That Stick: Power BI Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls

Session Abstract: Power BI dashboards are now central to how institutions communicate data, yet many IR professionals struggle with issues of design, usability, and adoption. This session shares practical strategies and lessons learned from building both internal and public dashboards at a large public university. Participants will explore the full development process, from structuring datasets and models for accuracy, to applying visualization techniques such as dynamic titles, hierarchy slicers, and bookmarks, to deploying dashboards that protect data while encouraging stakeholder trust. Special attention will be given to strategies for securing buy-in and ensuring sustainable adoption across campus. Attendees will leave with concrete skills, a clear framework for balancing technical and organizational needs, and a reusable Power BI template they can adapt to accelerate development at their own institutions.

Keywords: Power BI, Data Visualization, Dashboards