Data Visualization, UX Design & IBCS Storytelling

Instructor: Alaa Hady · Language: English or Arabic · Suggested duration: 1 day · Level: Beginner to Intermediate (Level 100–200)

Objectives

• Match visual selection and report layout to executive and operational decision workflows.
• Apply International Business Communication Standards (IBCS) and Gestalt principles in Power BI.
• Leverage modern Power BI visual features (new Card visual, small multiples, error bars, dynamic format strings).
• Design accessible, high-signal reports that drive immediate business action.

Outline and contents

1. Understanding the audience: Strategic, Analytical, and Operational dashboard archetypes
2. Visual perception, Gestalt principles, and eliminating chartjunk (maximizing data-ink ratio)
3. Choosing the right visual: bar/column, line, waterfall, decomposition tree, scatter, matrix, and small multiples
4. Applying IBCS principles: consistent notation for Actuals (solid), Plan/Budget (outlined), and Forecast (hatched), plus integrated variance bars
5. Mastering native Power BI UX features: new Card visual with reference labels, dynamic titles, field parameters, and conditional formatting
6. Wireframing, grid layouts, navigation bars, drill-through UX, and custom report page tooltips
7. Color theory, corporate themes (.json), number scaling, and WCAG accessibility compliance
8. Data storytelling framework: Context → Evidence → Implication → Recommended Action
9. Hands-on "Dashboard Makeover" workshop: transforming a cluttered report into an executive-ready layout

Target audience

Analysts, report designers, managers, business users, and Power BI developers.

Expected outcomes

Participants can critique and redesign cluttered dashboards into intuitive, standardized, and accessible analytical experiences that communicate insights within seconds.