Category Blog

Building a Colour Contrast Ratio Checker in Power BI (Using Pure DAX and WCAG Maths) 

A promotional graphic with a yellow background featuring a smiling woman on the left. On the right, bold text reads “SMART FRAMES UI” and “Building a Colour Contrast Ratio Checker in Power BI.” Below, smaller text invites viewers to subscribe for a free Power BI accessibility checklist. A yellow “Subscribe” button sits at the bottom.

Accessibility is something I advocate for constantly, especially when it comes to colour contrast. Yet every time the topic comes up, there’s always someone who believes contrast is just a matter of “choosing colours that look okay together.” Apparently, it’s not “technical enough.” So this time, instead of explaining why colour contrast matters, I…

Y-Axes Lies: How Small Design Choice Shapes Stories

Promotional graphic for SMART FRAMES UI featuring Juliana Smith smiling confidently on the right. The left side displays bold text: “SMART FRAMES UI – ‘Y-Axes Lies: How Small Design Choice Shapes Stories’” with a yellow “SUBSCRIBE” button and cursor icon. The design uses a yellow border and highlights a free Power BI accessibility checklist giveaway, promoting inclusive data visualization.

In one of my recent sessions, “Accidental Data Lies: How Poor Visual Can Choices Mislead”, I take a deep dive into common chart crimes and the ethics of data visualisation and storytelling. One of my favourite examples is truncated axes.…

When Relationships Go Rogue in Power BI

Promotional graphic for SMART FRAMES UI featuring Juliana Smith smiling confidently on the right. The left side displays bold text: “SMART FRAMES UI – ‘When Relationships Go Rogue in Power BI’” with a yellow “SUBSCRIBE” button and cursor icon. The design uses a yellow border and highlights a free Power BI accessibility checklist giveaway, promoting inclusive data visualization.

Happy 2026! If you’re still hunting for a New Year’s resolution, here’s a good one: get to know your data model like it’s your best friend! Understanding how your relationships work, especially the sneaky bidirectional ones, can save you hours of head-scratching…

The Feedback Redemption

Promotional graphic titled “FRAMING DATA FOR SUCCESS” in bold lettering. Subtext reads “Learning Power BI & Accessible Design,” with a red play button icon and the handle “@AccessibleBI.” Juliana Smith, wearing a grey sweater, appears in the background. The image is framed with a yellow border.

When I first started my career, feedback was the part I dreaded most. I’d sit there in review meetings, smiling politely on the outside, while inside I was defensive, anxious, sometimes even furious. Every comment felt personal. A verdict on…

Scope Creep: A Power BI Horror Tale

Promotional graphic titled “FRAMING DATA FOR SUCCESS” in bold lettering. Subtext reads “Learning Power BI & Accessible Design,” with a red play button icon and the handle “@AccessibleBI.” Juliana Smith, wearing a grey sweater, appears in the background. The image is framed with a yellow border.

Let’s talk about scope creep. Or as I like to call it this time of year, the ghost that haunts your Power BI projects. You start with a sleek, elegant report, one goal, one purpose. It’s a thing of beauty. It…

Background Choices in Power BI: Let’s Talk About It

Promotional graphic titled “FRAMING DATA FOR SUCCESS” in bold lettering. Subtext reads “Learning Power BI & Accessible Design,” with a red play button icon and the handle “@AccessibleBI.” Juliana Smith, wearing a grey sweater, appears in the background. The image is framed with a yellow border.

I’ve written quite a bit about colour contrast in data visualisation before, but today I want to zoom in on a topic I see overlooked a lot: dashboard background choices. Let me start with a simple truth: the background of…

Navigating  Northings and Eastings in Power BI

Promotional graphic titled “FRAMING DATA FOR SUCCESS” in bold lettering. Subtext reads “Learning Power BI & Accessible Design,” with a red play button icon and the handle “@AccessibleBI.” Juliana Smith, wearing a grey sweater, appears in the background. The image is framed with a yellow border.

I first came across Northings and Eastings was years ago when I worked as a navigator, plotting courses and making sure we didn’t end up somewhere we shouldn’t! So, when I stumbled across them again while working in Power BI a few…

Tracking Month-over-Month Changes in Power BI

Promotional graphic titled “FRAMING DATA FOR SUCCESS” in bold lettering. Subtext reads “Learning Power BI & Accessible Design,” with a red play button icon and the handle “@AccessibleBI.” Juliana Smith, wearing a grey sweater, appears in the background. The image is framed with a yellow border.

From my experience developing reporting solutions in Power BI, one of the most common requests, regardless of industry, is tracking changes over time. Whether it’s comparing this month’s costs to last month’s, monitoring budget fluctuations, or spotting delays in project…