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Quick answers
When should I pick Work reports?
When the story is: recurring reviews, budget bridges, headcount, pipeline.
When should I avoid Work reports?
Skip it in cases like: a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout.
Who invented or popularised it?
Corporate reporting culture after DuPont charts and 20th-c. board packs
What does it encode?
a small set of honest encodings repeated every cycle
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Work reports encodes values as a small set of honest encodings repeated every cycle. Corporate reporting culture after DuPont charts and 20th-c. board packs.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits recurring reviews, budget bridges, headcount, pipeline. Skip it when a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout.
Rules
- Rules 1 — Use a small set of honest encodings repeated every cycle as one channel, not two.
- Rules 2 — Direct labels beat a distant legend.
- Rules 3 — Do not hide zero. If you break the axis, say so.
- Rules 4 — Colour encodes category or magnitude, not both.
- Rules 5 — Put the claim in the title, not just "Work reports".
- Rules 6 — Source and period, even in small type.
Palette
- Palette 1 — Categories: distinct hues. Sequences: one hue, changing value.
- Palette 2 — Diverging: a neutral centre, emphasis at both ends.
- Palette 3 — One brand colour plus greys beats a rainbow.
- Palette 4 — Check contrast on a projector and in greyscale print.
Type
- Type 1 — Tabular figures for numbers. Do not pour body copy into the chart.
- Type 2 — Titles as sentences; axes as short nouns.
- Type 3 — For CJK, drop weight one step and leave tracking.
Work reports: honour a small set of honest encodings repeated every cycle, and switch when a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout.