Creating Infographic-Style Reports in Power BI – Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Infographic-style reports transform traditional Power BI dashboards into visually engaging and storytelling-driven reports. These reports use icons, images, custom shapes, and enhanced formatting techniques to present data in an aesthetic and intuitive manner.

Infographic reports are ideal for:
✅ Executive Dashboards – Simplifying complex metrics for decision-makers.
✅ Marketing & Sales Reports – Engaging visuals for trends and performance.
✅ HR & Finance Reports – Better presentation of key figures.
✅ Storytelling with Data – Presenting insights in a compelling way.

In this guide, we’ll cover every step in detail to help you create an engaging infographic-style Power BI report.

Step 1: Plan Your Infographic Report

Before jumping into Power BI, take time to plan:

Define the Purpose – What story are you telling? (e.g., Sales Growth, Customer Insights)
Identify Key Metrics – Choose the most relevant KPIs to display.
Select a Layout Style – Will it be single-page or multi-sectioned?
Choose Colors & Branding – Maintain a consistent theme for a professional look.
Sketch a Wireframe – Outline a rough layout of how visuals will be arranged.

Example Layout Plan for a Sales Dashboard:

📌 Header: Report title, date range, filters.
📌 Left Section: KPIs (Total Sales, Revenue Growth, Profit Margin).
📌 Right Section: Charts (Sales Trends, Regional Sales, Product Performance).
📌 Bottom Section: Key Insights & Recommendations.

Step 2: Set Up Power BI and Create the Report Canvas

Open Power BI Desktop and click “New Report”.
Import Data from Excel, SQL, SharePoint, or other sources.
Transform Data (if needed) in Power Query Editor:
- Remove unnecessary columns.
- Clean data inconsistencies.
- Create calculated columns or measures if required.
Go to the “View” tab and select Page Size:
- Default (16:9) or Custom (for vertical infographic layouts).
Enable Background Grid (optional):
- Helps in aligning visuals neatly.

Step 3: Design an Engaging Background

Instead of using default white backgrounds, create a visually appealing design.

Option 1: Use PowerPoint to Create a Custom Background

Open PowerPoint and create a slide with a custom design.
Use Shapes, Icons, and Colors to enhance visual appeal.
Save the slide as a PNG or JPEG.
In Power BI, go to Format Pane > Page Background > Add Image.

Option 2: Use Canva or Figma for Advanced Designs

Open Canva/Figma and select “Custom Size” matching Power BI page size.
Design an infographic-style template with icons, banners, and placeholders.
Export as PNG and set as Power BI background image.

Step 4: Add Infographic Elements & Visuals

Power BI has built-in visualizations, but for infographic-style reports, we need custom visuals.

1. Using Built-in Power BI Visuals with Styling

KPI Cards – For high-level summary metrics.
Bar & Column Charts – Make them horizontal for a better infographic look.
Line Charts – Simplified for trends, remove gridlines.
Treemap – Best for category-based comparisons.

2. Using Custom Infographic Visuals from Power BI Marketplace

Go to “Visualizations” Pane > Click on “Get more visuals”.
Search for and install:
- Infographic Designer – Converts bar charts into infographic-style visuals.
- Card with States – Enhances KPI visualization with custom icons.
- Deneb (Vega-Lite) – For advanced visual storytelling.
- Smart Narrative – Adds automated data storytelling insights.
Drag & drop these visuals into the report.

3. Adding Icons & Images

Go to Insert > Image to add custom icons or illustrations.
Use Power BI Shapes for banners, labels, and separators.
Download high-quality SVG icons from Flaticon, Icons8, or Microsoft Icons.
Use conditional formatting to change icons dynamically based on data.

4. Using Conditional Formatting for Visual Appeal

Apply Color Gradients to bar charts to highlight performance.
Use Custom Data Bars in table visuals for an infographic effect.
Apply Icon Sets to display status indicators (✔️ Good, ⚠️ Warning, ❌ Bad).

Step 5: Create a Storytelling Flow

An infographic report should guide the viewer logically.

Best Practices for Storytelling Flow:

📌 Start with KPIs – Highlight key metrics first.
📌 Show trends & comparisons – Use line or bar charts for insights.
📌 Use text labels & callouts – Add explanations for key findings.
📌 End with action points – Provide recommendations at the bottom.

Example Layout for an Infographic Report:

🔵 Top Section: Report title + KPI Summary (Revenue, Customers, Profit).
🔵 Middle Section: Charts (Sales by Region, Sales Trends, Product Performance).
🔵 Bottom Section: Insights & Recommendations with icons.

Step 6: Optimize for Performance & Mobile View

Reduce Unnecessary Data Loads – Remove unused columns.
Limit the Use of High-Resolution Images – Optimize PNG/JPEG size.
Use Hierarchies & Drill-throughs – Keep visuals clean.
Enable Mobile Layout – Go to View > Mobile Layout and rearrange elements.

Step 7: Publish and Share

Click “Publish” and upload the report to Power BI Service.
Set Row-Level Security (RLS) if needed.
Share the report link with stakeholders.
Enable Export to PDF if users want a printable infographic version.

Final Thoughts

Infographic-style reports bring life to data by using visuals, icons, and storytelling elements. By following these detailed steps, you can create professional, visually appealing Power BI reports that engage and inform stakeholders effectively.

Quick Summary of Steps

✅ Step 1: Plan the report structure, metrics, and layout.
✅ Step 2: Set up Power BI and define page size.
✅ Step 3: Create a custom background for a professional look.
✅ Step 4: Add infographic visuals (custom & built-in).
✅ Step 5: Structure data storytelling for better flow.
✅ Step 6: Optimize for performance and mobile viewing.
✅ Step 7: Publish, share, and get feedback.

Creating Infographic-Style Reports