Business Reports/Proposals

[Stevenj214]

Having spent most of my time at uni working in Word, Excel and Powerpoint, I find that documents tend to look very bland and same-ish (Arial 10, Excel graphs, Basic Slides, etc.).

Is there any software packages (especially free) that could enable me to easily create more interesting documents, especially in a way that can provide information with maximum impact?

To give you an idea of what I'm looking for I recently used a program called GunnMap to create a graphic representation of our business activities in the world. This replaced the bland "We currently sell to X countries in the world, the most popular are: A, B and C. In the next 5 years we aim to increase sales in X, Y and Z.

[muppetdave]

I use Adobe Indesign for bid documents that we prepare, in conjunction with Photoshop. As I'm improving with these programmes, and some of my staff are, the quality is really moving on - we started with basic templates from our designers and are moving on from here.

I would say though that neither of these programmes are cheap, I'm sure others will be along with better suggestions.

[V8mate]

I think you need to think carefully about what you are trying to say and to whom before you go mad with the crayons.

If I asked you to give me a verbal report on something (something serious!) would you dress up like a clown and do a little dance as you delivered it?

I think the same rules apply to business infomation documents, unless the circumstances specifically require a greater graphical input.

(You'll tell me now that you produce bid papers for a firm of architects! )

[Stevenj214]

V8mate said:

I think you need to think carefully about what you are trying to say and to whom before you go mad with the crayons.

If I asked you to give me a verbal report on something (something serious!) would you dress up like a clown and do a little dance as you delivered it?

I think the same rules apply to business infomation documents, unless the circumstances specifically require a greater graphical input.

(You'll tell me now that you produce bid papers for a firm of architects! )

I take your point. I know it could be taken too far - where the presentation of it becomes more important than the info - but at the same time, almost everyone comes out of university with the same skillset in word, excel, powerpoint. I'm just looking for something that little bit different to add a bit of professionalism.

[ukvoyager.info]

We use pictures to enhance presentations and then talk the slide. Some slides have one or no words on them at all!

If you do use words, max 5 words per line, max 4 lines. If I had a pound for every dencely worded presentations I see at conferences that make everyone go to sleep....

Happy to send a sample if it helps.