Presenting information usefully.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH FIRST
Who reads this, and what decision it supports.
WHY
A report supporting no decision is decoration.
WHAT TO PUT FIRST
The answer to the main question.
WHAT TO AVOID
Many charts with no hierarchy Charts nobody can interpret Decoration consuming space
WHAT CHART TO USE
A line for change over time A bar for comparison across categories A single large figure for one important number
WHAT TO TITLE A CHART WITH
The finding, rather than the subject, where it is stable.
WHAT TO PROVIDE
Filters that are obvious An indication of what filters are applied The date the data was last refreshed
WHY THAT LAST ONE
Readers otherwise assume it is current, and act on stale figures.
WHAT TO CHECK
Contrast and colour, since reports are read on projectors and printed.
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Convey meaning by colour alone.
WHAT TO TEST
On the devices people actually use, including phones.
WHAT TO VERIFY
Totals against a figure someone already trusts.
