Field notes · February 2026
Reading dashboards without overload
Directors tell us they want "the numbers" but rarely have more than fifteen minutes before a meeting. Overloaded dashboards — twelve chart types, competing colour palettes, footnotes in 8pt type — get skimmed or skipped. These layout habits consistently improve comprehension in our client work.
One question per panel
Each chart answers a single question: "Are we ahead of plan?" or "Which branch drove the variance?" Titles state the question; the chart provides the answer. Mixing questions in one visual forces the reader to decode intent before reading data.
Consistent colour meaning
We reserve one accent colour for "needs attention" and neutral greys for context series. When red appears, it means the same thing on every page. Directors learn the grammar once and apply it across the report.
Numbers adjacent to charts
A trend line without the current value forces mental arithmetic. We place the latest figure, prior period, and target in a text block beside the chart — large enough to read on a printed A3 at arm's length.
Annotation instead of appendix
When a spike has a known cause — Hari Raya travel surge, port closure, promotional campaign — we annotate on the chart. Directors should not flip to page seven for an explanation of something visible on page one.
White space is data
Crowded grids signal low priority. We limit executive layouts to six to eight panels per page and use margins deliberately. The empty space tells the reader where to look first.
These choices feel conservative compared to animated online dashboards. That is intentional. Executive reporting is read under time pressure, often on paper. Clarity beats spectacle.