3.1 Space

3.2 Data

3.3 Elements

3.4 Interrelations

3.3 Better overview

Use small elements: Better overview

The need for a higher level of information density requires that texts, charts and tables be displayed as small as possible – but only so small that they are still be read easily. Technical parameters must be examined separately for printed pages, for PDF pages read on a screen, or pages shown with an overhead projector.

3.3.1

Use small fonts

Avoiding oversize fonts is a common approach to improvement that can be immediately put to use in the layout of reports and presentations. Often in today's PowerPoint culture, one comes across font sizes more than three times the size of the smallest font used, especially in titles and messages. As a result, this not only wastes space needlessly, abbreviations have to be used and this impacts the visual layout of a page negatively.

3.3.2

Use small charts

The size of charts used in reports and presentations should not be as large as possible, on the contrary, their size should be as small as possible – yet only so small that the chart and all its details and labels can be read easily.

3.3.3

Use small tables

What is true for charts also applies to tables. Tables are more transparent if they show many values per area – always under the assumption that that they can be read easily

3.3.4

Use small icons, symbols, and highlightings

Small objects such as charts and tables improve the overview, but small elements within these objects can also help to increase clarity. It simply is not true that large-scale, "loud" symbols, and highlights are more suitable than smaller, uniform, and clear symbols and highlights.