Before it starts
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Your weekly read on data, design and product decisions that you should make before you open Power BI, Tableau or any dataviz tool.
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Tags: data visualization
Showing 6 results:
Design the decision, not the dashboard
READ TIME - 10 minutes ⏳
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I recently sent a client a 5 minutes video. Just a side-by-side of their report before and after I redesigned one visual. That one comparison changed the entire scope of our collaboration. Here is the full st...
Apr 02, 2026
data visualization
design principles
Why transparency is a weak design choice in Power BI
READ TIME - 4 minutes ⏳
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One design habit that seems harmless in Power BI, but becomes surprisingly difficult to manage once a report grows, is using transparency as part of the actual color system, especially for backgrounds.
A common ...
Mar 19, 2026
data visualization
design system
Treat reports like products (not deliverables)
READ TIME - 6 minutes ⏳
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In many teams, the moment someone says “we need visibility,” a dashboard starts getting built.
No kickoff. No spec. No discussion of who it’s for or how it will be used. Just a blank Power BI canvas and a vague expectation of “insights.”
But this reflex (treating dashboa...
Jan 29, 2026
data visualization
design systems
Default chart titles are hurting your dashboards
READ TIME - 5 minutes ⏳
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An old man is sitting on his boat.The boat itself is still resting on the beach, dry sand under the hull, no waves in sight, no sign that it has ever touched the water.
Painted on the side, in large letters, is the boat’s name: “Waterproof”.The typography choice makes it...
Jan 08, 2026
data visualization
user experience
Learning dataviz through experience
READ TIME - 4 minutes ⏳
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A couple of years ago, ✨ someone in my building ✨ got tired of late-night-4AM parties coming from an upstairs neighbor.
Not angry enough to escalate.Not certain enough to complain formally.Just frustrated (and unsure whether they were the only one hearing it).
That un...
Jan 01, 2026
data visualization
user experience
How to "escape the matrices"
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READ TIME - 1 minute⏳
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When things feel unclear or complex, people reach for what’s familiar. What has worked before. What doesn’t require a long explanation or an uncomfortable conversation.
Tables feel safe. Matrices feel familiar. Line charts are reassuring.
They’re easy to ask for, easy t...
Dec 25, 2025
data visualization
design principles