When you click through a dashboard and analyze the data, you’re reflecting on thoughts that can be very valuable to others. Wouldn’t it be helpful to capture them so the next person can build on them? That’s why commenting is an important functionality and should be actively used. Small reminder: Use the pyramid principle – first the central message, then the arguments. There are freestanding comments, usually on the right margin, and linked comments that refer to a certain value. Notes can also be placed in tables. Instead of highlighting, comments can also be linked to parts of the diagram using different colors. Guide the reader and provide additional information without commenting indiscriminately or excessively.

This rule and others are explained in detail in the reportingimpulse Academy. Get Insights in our Visual Data Analytics Beginner’s Package here! In addition to our most important rules for dashboarding, it includes learning videos on the corresponding topic, book recommendations, reportingimpulse SharePics and much more.

The poster with all Information Design and Dashboarding rules: