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Page 1: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Beautiful Reports

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The Non-Designer’s Guide to Designing Business Documents

Page 2: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Why Beautiful Reports?As any chef will tell you, it’s all about presentation.

When creating a “composition,” whether it be a gourmet meal or a business document, providing the basics isn’t enough.

The output must look appetizing as well, or your customers are likely to pass on what you’re trying to serve them.

Here are seven ideas to help improve your documents.

Page 3: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Idea #1: TextConsider these options to improve the text in your reports:

• Use both Serif and Sans Serif fonts• Vary spacing between

words and lines• Try visual cues like

colored text and weights (e.g., bold)

Page 4: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Idea #2: Tables

Think about adding these table options to polish your reports:

• Vary cell, row, and column dimensions• Justify your data for

easier reading• Add color, borders and

a title for visual interest• Order your data for

relevance

Page 5: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Idea #3: Charts

Include charts when you’re describing trends:

• Choose the correct chart type for your data• Use effects sparingly• Keep charts small and

readable• Apply colors that

emphasize the data

Page 6: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Idea #4: LayoutThe right layout makes your document beautiful:

• Trust in the standard margin defaults• Use white space to

emphasize elements•Make the report skim-able• Create and apply a master

template

Page 7: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Idea #5: ImagesImages are a popular way to beautify your reports:

• Enhance with small, simple images (like the truck to the left) • Keep images real and

relevant• Carefully choose where

to store images • Size and position images

using relative positioning

Page 8: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Idea #6: ColorsUse colors wisely to make your reports shine:

• Don’t overwhelm with too many colors• Try to consider the

“meanings” associated with colors•Make sure combinations

of colors are readable• Use color with text and

layout for context

Page 9: Beautiful Reports: The Non-Designer's Guide to Designing Business Documents

Idea #7: NavigationNavigation is the final, critical touch:

• Use sub-heads and section titles for easy scanning• Add a Table of Contents• Consider adding page

numbers• Put supporting data

into appendices


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