Visualization best practices

Effective reports are much more than simply answering documented business questions with the available measures and columns of the dataset. Reports also need to be visually appealing and provide a logical structure that aids in navigation and readability. Business users of all backgrounds appreciate a report that is clear, concise, and aesthetically pleasing.

Now that the report planning phase described is complete, the following list of 15 visualization best practices can guide the report development process:

1. Avoid clutter and minimize non-essential details: Each visual should align with the purpose of the report—to gain insight into a business question. Visualizations should not represent wild guesses or functionality that the author finds interesting.

   Eliminate report elements that aren’t essential for improving understanding. Gridlines, legends, axis labels, text boxes, and images can often be limited or removed. The report...