When crafting a dashboard and thinking of where each container should go, start with prioritizing content. According to eye-tracking studies, people don't read the information on web pages word by word — they scan.

There are multiple scanning patterns, and which one users choose depends on:

• Their task
• Their prior experience of reading on the web
• The page layout
• The type of page content (text or images)^[1]

For example, the F pattern is people's default scanning pattern and is more typical for content-loaded pages, like news websites. The zigzag and lawn-mower patterns are more common for pages with distinct cells of content, like dashboards, or pages with small amounts of copy, like landings.

Regardless of the layout pattern, you should know how to lead users toward the desired destination. Use clear, evident headings and subheadings and place the information of core interest in the most scannable spots to direct users' attention.