Power BI Report Design Series: Introduction

In this introduction to the Power BI Report Design Series, Allison Gonzalez, a Microsoft Certified Trainer at Pragmatic Works, outlines the key concepts and strategies that will be covered throughout the series. With her background in Fine Art, web design, and experience training others on Power BI, Allison brings a unique perspective to the often-overlooked field of report design.

Background and Purpose of the Series

Allison begins by sharing her background, highlighting her journey from Fine Art to web design, and her eventual focus on Power BI. Through her years of experience in design and training, she has identified a significant gap in report design and aims to fill this gap with her new series. The goal is to help viewers create reports that are not only functional but also visually appealing and user-friendly.

Key Topics to Be Covered

• Report Structure and Sizing: Understanding the fundamentals of report design, from setting up a report structure to selecting the right visuals for the data.
• Visuals and Communication: Choosing the best visuals (e.g., tables, line charts, column charts, custom visuals) to effectively communicate data, and ensuring that visuals work together cohesively.
• Design Theory: How to apply design principles to create balanced, user-friendly reports. Allison emphasizes the importance of visual hierarchy and layout to avoid a cluttered or unbalanced report.
• Color Theory: A deep dive into color theory and how to use colors effectively in reports. Allison discusses choosing color palettes, making custom palettes, and tools that can help with color selection.
• Creating Backgrounds: Tips for creating backgrounds using tools like PowerPoint and Canva, as well as adjusting colors, textures, and gradients for a polished design.

Practical Application: Building Reports

In the later parts of the series, Allison will guide viewers through the process of building reports by combining all the concepts covered in the earlier lessons. She will show how to take inspiration from popular websites and adapt those design elements to Power BI reports. This is especially useful for those working in organizations with specific branding requirements, allowing them to create reports that align with company colors and styles.

Additional Bonuses and Resources

As a bonus, Allison will also provide additional resources throughout the series, including access to Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform. Subscribers can use a special discount code "allison30" to get 30% off membership fees, unlocking access to a wide range of Power Platform courses. Allison encourages viewers to engage with the content by commenting on any additional topics they would like covered in the series.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Allison wraps up the introduction by inviting viewers to subscribe to Pragmatic Works' YouTube channel and follow the series as it progresses. She also recommends checking out the Data Storytelling class on the on-demand platform, which integrates many of the report design elements discussed in the series. Allison’s enthusiasm for report design shines through, and viewers are encouraged to follow along as the series unfolds.

Stay tuned for more videos and happy learning!

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.