Course Overview

Evaluation reports play a critical role in whether findings are read, understood, and used. Too often, reports rely on default Word or Excel formatting that fails to engage audiences or communicate results clearly. This course focuses on report design as a core strategy for promoting evaluation use.

Participants will learn how to move beyond default formats and use other formats like PowerPoint or Google Slides as flexible and accessible tools for creating visually compelling deliverables. The course introduces practical principles of graphic design, visual communication, and data visualization that support clarity, credibility, and action. Participants will apply these principles to a range of evaluation products, including full reports, executive summaries, one-pagers, and infographics.

The course emphasizes that evaluators create reports for specific audiences. Program Evaluation Standards and the American Evaluation Association Guiding Principles call for reporting that is honest, accurate, and actionable. Well-designed reports that meet these standards are more likely to be read and used.

What You Will Learn

Participants will strengthen their ability to design evaluation products that invite readers in and support deeper engagement with findings. The course builds practical skills in visual report design, data visualization, and layout using PowerPoint. Participants also learn how to align reports with organizational branding and apply design principles consistently across different types of evaluation products.

Course Format

The course is delivered in two virtual, instructor-led modules (or one day in-person). Participants who successfully complete both modules receive a certificate of completion.

Module Breakdown

Module 1: Laying the Foundation with Design Principles

The first module introduces the rationale for visual communication in evaluation reporting. Participants learn fundamental principles of graphic design and explore how these principles apply to evaluation products. The module covers aligning reports with organizational branding and style guides. Participants also learn PowerPoint tools and techniques needed to set up a custom report, including adjusting slide size, selecting fonts and color themes, and creating custom layouts.

Module 2: Communicating with Data and Images

The second module focuses on communicating effectively through data and imagery. Participants explore best practices in data visualization and infographic design. The module also examines how to source high-quality photography and use PowerPoint tools to manipulate images in ways that support report style and organizational branding.

Who Should Attend

This course is appropriate for:

• Evaluators who produce reports for diverse audiences
• Learning and research professionals responsible for communicating findings
• Program staff who create evaluation summaries or briefing materials
• Anyone seeking to improve the clarity and visual impact of evaluation reports

Prerequisites

Participants should have basic familiarity with PowerPoint. Principles taught in the course also apply to Keynote and Google Slides, although all demonstrations and exercises use PowerPoint.