What are the most effective ways to create charts for internal communications reports?

2 Use clear and consistent labels

Labels are the key to making your charts understandable and informative. You need to label your axes, categories, series, values, and legends in a clear and consistent way. Avoid using jargon, abbreviations, or symbols that might confuse your audience. Use descriptive titles and subtitles that capture the main point of your chart. Use the same font, size, and color for your labels across different charts. And make sure your labels are aligned, spaced, and formatted properly to avoid clutter and overlap.

3 Apply the right colors and styles

Colors and styles can make a big difference in how your charts look and feel. They can also help you convey your tone, mood, and emotion. You can use colors and styles to draw attention, create contrast, show hierarchy, or establish a theme. For example, you can use bright or warm colors to highlight important or positive data, and dark or cool colors to show less relevant or negative data. You can use different shapes, sizes, or textures to differentiate between categories or series. You can also use colors and styles that match your brand identity or your report design. However, don't go overboard with colors and styles. Use them sparingly and strategically, and avoid using too many or too confusing ones.

5 Test and refine your charts

Before you finalize and share your charts, you need to test and refine them. You need to check if your charts are accurate, complete, and consistent with your data source. You need to review if your charts are clear, concise, and coherent with your message. You need to evaluate if your charts are engaging, appealing, and impactful for your audience. You can also ask for feedback from your colleagues, managers, or stakeholders to see if your charts meet their expectations and needs. Test and refine your charts until you are satisfied with the results.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?