Creating Visually Appealing Report Designs - Essential Training

Creating Visually Appealing Report Designs - Essential Training

A well-designed report should guide the consumer to quickly find and understand the answers to their questions. The spacing applied to the report's page margins and between report objects includes the border area surrounding each page. Report objects should be framed by a border area with consistent spacing. Although there is no report page property to set margins, the margin sizes should be equal on the left and right but can vary on the top and bottom. Be sure to add enough space around or within report objects, but keep in mind that too much space can result in an unbalanced report design.

You can set the page size with predefined or custom dimensions. Generally, the more important the visual object, the larger its size should be. While report consumers can use the focus mode to zoom in on a single visual object, it should still effectively communicate its data when viewed in actual size on the report page. When there are multiple visual objects on the report page, ensure they are properly aligned.

Sections can be implicit or explicit. Implicit sections can be defined by aligning groups of closely related visual objects. Explicit sections can be defined by using shapes with color and overlaying aligned visual objects on those shapes. Use color sparingly and purposefully, as excessive use could distract or overwhelm. Use a few soft colors, possibly aligned with corporate colors, as a base. By using soft colors, you ensure that the data remains the focal point of the report. Reserve the use of bright colors to highlight exceptions and provide sufficient contrast.

Consistency should be present throughout the report design, including spacing, margins, size, alignment, and, most importantly, object formatting choices. The quickest way to apply consistency is by using a report theme. You can use one as a starting point and customize it to better fit your requirements. You can also create a theme from scratch, which will require more initial work but provide you with detailed control. Make sure to export the report theme, which is a JSON file, and apply it to other reports to ensure consistency across all reports.

Selection of Report Visual Objects - Training

Tables and matrices can effectively convey a large amount of detailed information. Taking a line chart to the next level can be done by adding an analytical option. Avoid using a line chart with a category X-axis because the line implies a relationship between elements that may not exist. Selecting the wrong type of visual object could hinder data comprehension for report consumers or, worse, result in an incorrect representation of the data.

Bar or column charts are good options when displaying data across multiple categories. In most cases, you should sort category charts by value instead of alphabetical order by category. If values may be missing, a column chart may be a better visual object choice as it helps avoid the interpretation of a nonexistent trend.

The following visual objects are effective for various data presentations:

• Ribbon Chart

• Stacked Column Chart

• Area Chart

• Line and Stacked Column Chart (also shows ranking changes over time)

• Column and Bar charts work well for visualizing proportions across multiple dimensions. Proportional visual objects cannot plot a combination of positive and negative values. They should be used when all values are positive or all are negative.

• 100% Stacked Column Chart (proportional visualization)

• Funnel Chart

• Treemap Chart

• Pie Chart

• Donut Chart

• Matrix visual objects provide one of the best experiences for hierarchical navigation. They allow users to explore in-depth, in columns or rows, to identify detailed data points of interest. When applying conditional formatting, data bars help report consumers quickly understand the distribution of values.

• KPI Table with conditional formatting

• Matrix with conditional formatting

When a semantic model has geospatial information, it can be conveyed using map visual objects. The US Choropleth Map visual object may not sufficiently convey sales by city. If you elevate the granularity to the state level, the Choropleth Map visual object will generate a better result than the Map visual object. A map visual object can take up considerable space on the report page. Additionally, geospatial data doesn't always have to be displayed on maps. If the location is not highly relevant to the requirements, consider using a categorical visual object instead.

In conclusion, creating visually appealing report designs requires attention to spacing, margins, size, alignment, and object formatting choices. Consistency throughout the report design is crucial for a cohesive and professional look. When selecting visual objects, consider the type of data being presented and choose the object that best conveys the information. Additionally, be mindful of the limitations and advantages of each visual object. By following these guidelines, you can create reports that effectively communicate data and engage report consumers.

Actionable Advice:

1. Use a report theme as a starting point for consistent design elements, and customize it to fit your specific requirements.
2. When selecting visual objects, consider the type of data being presented and choose the object that effectively conveys the information.
3. Pay attention to the limitations and advantages of each visual object, and choose accordingly to ensure accurate representation of the data.

By following these three actionable pieces of advice, you can enhance the design and selection of visual objects in your reports, resulting in more impactful and effective communication of data.