5 Common Mistakes PowerBI Newbies Make

No modern business can function in the absence of data, so more and more organisations are encouraging the use of business intelligence tools such as PowerBI outside of their data departments. PowerBI, Microsoft’s flagship analytics platform, offers unparalleled capabilities for transforming complex data into actionable insights through compelling visualisations. However, for those new to the platform, a series of common mistakes tend to be made, particularly in the area of visual design.

Effective visual communication is at the heart of PowerBI’s value proposition, enabling users to understand trends, outliers, and patterns in data. Yet, without a clear understanding of visual design principles, newcomers often find themselves making mistakes that can undermine the clarity and impact of their reports. 

These mistakes, ranging from the misuse of colours to the overcrowding of visuals, can obscure the very insights they seek to highlight.

Microsoft uses this as an example of a well-crafted report page. 

 

This article is crafted with the intent to guide PowerBI newbies through the maze of early visual design challenges. Drawing from our extensive experience in conducting bespoke PowerBI training sessions, we pinpoint the five most prevalent visual design errors encountered by beginners. 

Our goal is to help you avoid these mistakes, ensuring your reports are not only visually appealing but, more importantly, effectively communicate the intended insights to your audience.

1 - Inconsistent Visual Formatting

The Consequences of Visual Disarray

Inconsistent formatting leads to a scattered presentation of data, where the focus is lost among varying colours, fonts, and styles. This lack of uniformity can significantly affect the report’s professional appearance, making it seem less credible to stakeholders. 

 Furthermore, studies have shown that visual consistency enhances user experience by reducing cognitive load, allowing the viewer to process information more efficiently and accurately.

Crafting Cohesion in Your Reports

 Achieving a consistent look and feel across your PowerBI reports doesn’t require sacrificing creativity for conformity. Instead, it's about establishing your design rules and sticking to them throughout the report. This can be accomplished by:

•  Selecting a Colour Scheme: Choose a colour palette that reflects your brand or the tone of the report, and use it consistently across all visuals.
•  Standardising Fonts and Sizes: Decide on a set of fonts and sizes for titles, labels, and body text, ensuring they are readable and uniform throughout.
•  Utilising Templates: PowerBI offers a variety of templates that can serve as a starting point for consistent report design.

 By dedicating time to the upfront selection of these elements, you can create a template that serves as a blueprint for all future reports. This not only streamlines the report creation process but also ensures that each report maintains a professional and coherent appearance.

The Power of First Impressions

Remember, your report is often the first impression stakeholders will have of your analysis. A report that looks disjointed or hastily put together can undermine the confidence in the data presented, even if that lack of confidence is totally unfounded. 

Conversely, a report that boasts a clean, consistent design not only speaks to the professionalism of the analyst but also to the reliability of the insights it contains.

2 - Choosing the Wrong Visuals

Selecting appropriate visuals is key to effective data communication in PowerBI. Consider these guidelines to ensure your visuals align with your data's narrative:

• Bar Charts: Best for comparing quantities across different categories.
• Line Charts: Ideal for depicting trends and changes over time.
• Histograms: Useful for showing the distribution of data over intervals, great for understanding the frequency of data points within a range.
• Area Charts: Effective for comparing quantities over time, with the added dimension of cumulative totals.
• Tables or Matrixes: When detail is necessary, tables display exact figures and text, while matrixes can show two dimensions of data and support grouping and hierarchies.

Choosing the right visual for your analysis is a crucial aspect of effective reporting. 

 

Choosing the correct visual type can significantly enhance your report’s clarity and prevent potential misinterpretation, ensuring your Power BI reports convey the intended insights accurately and effectively.

3 - The Overuse of Colour

 Colour is a powerful tool in data visualisation, but its overuse in Power BI reports can lead to confusion rather than clarity. Here’s how to use colour effectively: 

• Limit Your Palette: Stick to a consistent, limited colour palette to maintain focus and avoid visual overwhelm.
• Highlight Key Data: Use colour to draw attention to important data points or trends, making them stand out from the rest.
• Avoid Bright Colors: Choose softer, complementary colours over bright, harsh ones to ensure your report is comfortable to view for extended periods.

Image Credit: Numerro

 By judiciously applying colour, you can enhance your report's visual appeal and make your data storytelling more impactful.

4- Neglecting White Space

White space is a crucial element often overlooked by Power BI novices. Along with enhancing the aesthetic appeal, white space plays a significant role in how report viewers interact with your work. Its proper use can transform a report from cluttered to clear, facilitating more intuitive navigation through the data presented:

• Space Between Visuals: Ensure there's ample space around each chart or graph to prevent a cluttered look.
• Simplify to Amplify: More visuals do not mean more insight. Use the minimum necessary to convey your message.
• Guide the Viewer’s Eye: White space can help direct attention to where it's most needed, improving data comprehension.

Leveraging white space effectively is not about adding emptiness but about creating a structured, focused report that communicates more effectively.

5 - Building Without a Plan

 Diving into PowerBI without a clear plan is akin to construction without a blueprint; it's essential to whiteboard your report before building. Here’s why:

• Vision and Structure: Sketching out your report layout ensures a coherent structure that guides your audience through the data story effectively.
• Efficiency in Design: Planning ahead saves time by identifying the most suitable visuals and data models early in the process.
• Targeted Communication: A preconceived layout helps focus on key insights, making your report more impactful and easier to understand.

 A well-thought-out plan is the backbone of a successful PowerBI report, turning raw data into a compelling narrative with precision and purpose.

Allow Us to Be Your Training Partner

 At Talos, we specialise in empowering your team with PowerBI, utilising your own data to ensure relevance and immediate applicability. Our bespoke training manuals are crafted to offer tailored guidance that is suited for everyone from complete beginners to seasoned experts aiming to unlock the full potential of PowerBI. 

 Let us be your ally in navigating the complexities of data visualisation and analysis, ensuring everyone in your organisation can leverage PowerBI to its fullest. Get in touch today and see what we can do for your organisation.