“Power corrupts. PowerPoint corrupts absolutely.” – Edward Tufte
In our introductory Power BI training sessions for business users, participants who are experiencing the platform for the first time are looking for a high-level overview: what’s possible and how to build a Power BI report using a simple dataset.
This is a common requirement, and at this level we emphasize data storytelling, best practices in visual selection and design, common mistakes to avoid, and how to communicate effectively with Power BI.
We therefore go over the purpose of each visual available in Power BI and ensure that everyone clearly understands what message it is meant to convey. It’s always surprising to realize how many business users do not truly understand the meaning of a chart — even when it appears in countless business reports.
It’s not about producing reports, but about delivering relevant information to support decision-making. In the Business Analytics training, we went a bit further and defined a set of design rules that are still largely unexplored in Power BI. We developed an internal Design Kit, which we provide during training sessions, that helps define and apply a consistent set of visual rules instantly.
Wireframing – layout rules for Power BI visuals
Some Power BI developers use a technique that consists of designing report layouts in PowerPoint — defining boxes for visuals, exporting the slide as an image, and then using it as a layout background in the report.
While this method works, it has clear drawbacks: it’s rigid and difficult to maintain. If the report author changes their mind about layout, the entire process must be redone.
That’s why we opted for a wireframe that divides the page vertically into 12 columns of equal width and spacing. Horizontally, we use 3 blocks to define spacing between visuals.
We created a base layout with page dimensions and clear rules for placing visuals and setting space:
Placing visuals is simple: just align them with the column guides, as shown in this example:
This technique is easy to maintain and provides flexibility in case layout changes are needed. At the same time, it ensures perfect alignment and a more user-friendly and readable report.
Color schemes and Power BI themes
We use a complementary color scheme based on blue and orange, which offers strong visual contrast, clear data differentiation, and a professional aesthetic. These colors sit on opposite ends of the color wheel, which makes categorical differences easier to see.
Beyond the color scheme, we define a Power BI theme that can be reused across reports with consistent styling. In addition to colors, this includes shadows, effects, fonts, and text sizes — allowing reports to be styled perfectly in just a few clicks.
Iconography
To make it easier for users to navigate through a report, we created an icon library for consistent use. One of the most common mistakes is mixing icons or images from different sets, which makes the report feel chaotic.
Depending on the type of visual being used, icons can be imported into Power BI as images or accessed via URL. For example, in the new Tile Slicer, country flags are stored in a web-accessible image library and linked directly in the data model:
Something similar happens with the new Card visual. Both the data and icons are loaded from the data model:
However, in the report page navigator, icons are loaded as .png image files — they are not part of the data model:
You can explore the final result below:
