In this second part of the Power BI report build series, Allison Gonzalez, Microsoft Certified Trainer at Pragmatic Works, walks viewers through the process of finalizing a visually appealing and data-rich report focused on tree planting statistics. Picking up from the previous episode, Allison dives into designing, structuring, and formatting the report using real-world data from 2021.
Setting Up the Visual Elements
Allison begins by emphasizing the importance of planning the report layout before adding visuals. She recommends the "rule of thirds," dividing the page into three columns while allowing flexibility for visuals that span multiple columns. Her approach ensures a balance of aesthetics and functionality.
- Background and Theme: Allison sourced high-resolution, free stock images for the background, experimenting with multiple options to find the best fit. She also imported icons and designed a PowerPoint background to use as the canvas in Power BI.
- Color Palette: Colors were chosen to reflect a tree theme, creating a cohesive look across visuals.
- Layout Strategy: Allison placed visuals roughly in the desired positions before refining them, focusing on assembly-line efficiency for future adjustments.
Adding Visuals to the Report
The report highlights global tree planting data, so Allison selects visuals that clearly showcase both quantity and geographic distribution:
- Stacked Bar Chart: Displays top tree planting countries in 2021. The y-axis shows country names, while the x-axis represents the sum of trees planted.
- Tree Map: Adds a fun, thematic element while visualizing tree planting by country.
- Map Visual: Uses an Azure Map to display geographic locations of top tree planting countries, with bubble size corresponding to the number of trees.
- Card Visuals: Two cards highlight key metrics: total trees planted globally and the percentage planted in the United States.
Formatting and Refinement
With the visuals in place, Allison focuses on enhancing clarity, readability, and aesthetics:
- Titles: She modifies all titles to clearly reflect the content, such as "Top Tree Planting Countries in 2021."
- Axes and Labels: Removes unnecessary axis labels to reduce clutter and emphasizes key metrics.
- Colors: Applies conditional formatting and gradient fills to visuals, reinforcing the tree theme with shades of green and brown.
- Shadows and Backgrounds: Adds subtle shadows to visuals for depth and clarity, while removing heavy backgrounds to keep the report clean.
- Card Formatting: Adjusts callout values, display units, and colors for easy readability. Uses format painter to apply consistent styling across multiple cards efficiently.
- Map Enhancements: Chooses road and terrain map styles for simplicity and clarity, applies gradient conditional formatting for bubble sizes, and adjusts borders for visual balance.
- Tree Map Styling: Uses conditional formatting with a gradient of greens and browns to create a visually appealing “tree” aesthetic.
Efficiency Tips
Allison stresses efficiency when building reports:
- Use assembly-line workflows: place visuals first, format later to save time.
- Apply consistent themes and formatting across visuals using tools like the format painter.
- Experiment with multiple design options for images, colors, and icons before finalizing the report.
Conclusion
By the end of the video, Allison demonstrates a polished, data-driven Power BI report that effectively communicates tree planting statistics across countries. She reinforces the importance of visual cohesion, efficient workflows, and thoughtful design choices to produce professional reports. This episode is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their Power BI report-building skills, particularly in creating thematic and visually engaging dashboards.
Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Power BI and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.