The Value of a Clear Corner Box in Project Dashboards

There are many ways to design and present a dashboard page—but for me, there is one element I never leave out: a small, clean corner box that highlights the most important project points.

When preparing dashboards for board meetings, steering committees, or senior-level reviews, project control professionals often feel overwhelmed by the amount of data they need to show. Progress, delays, risks, cost performance—it all matters. But when everything feels important, we sometimes lose track of what actually needs to be said first.

I’ve been in this situation many times. I’ve started talking about delays, issues, and risk factors before even mentioning the total number of delayed days or the core Earned Value metrics. Over time, I learned that having a small margin or corner space—dedicated to the major indicators—ensures that the key message is never missed.

This section should be simple and sharp. It might include basic earned value numbers, progress percentages, and time status. Once this is clearly stated, the rest of the dashboard can expand on the full story.

Of course, the rest of the page will contain all the supporting information you need to communicate. But I strongly recommend aligning the layout in a way that supports the priority of the data. For example, if your corner box talks about the project calendar and earned value indicators, the rest of the dashboard should visually reinforce that topic—not distract with unrelated details like risk breakdowns or procurement issues.

A good dashboard is not only informative—it’s consistent, intentional, and well-organized. With a smart layout, a well-placed highlight box, and a supporting body of data, your message will land clearly—before anyone even asks the first question.

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