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.
Use when
- Use when 1 — recurring reviews, budget bridges, headcount, pipeline
- Use when 2 — Excel or Google Sheets
- Use when 3 — PowerPoint
- Use when 4 — lab reports and poster boards
- Use when 5 — Meta, Google and retail print
Avoid when
- Avoid when 1 — a one-off story that needs a custom visual, or an ad that must shout
- Avoid when 2 — 3-D, dual axes, rainbow scales
- Avoid when 3 — Undated numbers, undated time series
- Avoid when 4 — Four charts on one slide
Audiences
- Work — PowerPoint
- Ads — Meta, Google and retail print
- School — lab reports and poster boards
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.