Techniques for adjusting process variables in a process plant using gesture-based input on a user interface device include presenting a graphic representation associated with a process plant entity in the process plant and an indication of a process variable value corresponding to the process plant entity as measured with the actual process plant and providing a user control for receiving gesture-based input at a location on the user interface device corresponding to the graphic representation associated with the process plant entity to adjust the process variable value. In response to receiving gesture-based input from an operator to adjust the process variable value for the corresponding process plant entity, the user interface device presents an adjusted process variable value and sets the process variable in the actual process plant to the adjusted process variable value.