Data visualization is a way to represent raw data in a graphical or pictorial form to enhance understanding and facilitate insightful interpretation. It's a skill widely used in several career paths, including data analysts, business intelligence analysts, data scientists, and market research analysts, who translate complex numerical data into digestible visual content.
A study by Market Research Future projects that the global data visualization market will reach approximately USD 9 billion by 2024, indicating its significant demand and broad application. Mastering data visualization is worthwhile as it augments one's analytical capabilities but also optimizes decision-making processes in any business or research scenario.
Top In-Person and Virtual Data Visualization Classes
Data Visualization Courses at the University of Sydney Centre for Continuing Education
The University of Sydney Centre for Continuing Education offers a plethora of learning opportunities for anyone looking to build their skills or widen their knowledge. With an exceptional range of courses from languages, arts, business, lifestyle, and more, students can delve into new interests, upgrade their professional skills or even kick-start a new career path.
Data Visualization and Storytelling
- Price: $562.51
- Duration: Eight hours
- Locations: Several (see school website)
At the University of Sydney Centre for Continuing Education, the Data Visualisation and Storytelling course offers students an in-depth exploration of the art and science of presenting data in a visual, engaging manner. Participants will learn to fully utilize software tools like Excel and Tableau, develop skills in data cleaning and manipulation, and master the techniques of visualization design and communication, ultimately creating data-driven stories with impact.
Data Visualization Courses at Wild Code School
Colaberry School of Data Science offers in-depth and practical learning programs focused on data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. Through these programs, students develop a strong command of the latest industry tools, concepts, and business practices, equipping them with the necessary skills to jump-start their careers in the rapidly growing field of data science.
Business Intelligence and Data Visualization Course
- Price: $4,414.66
- Duration: Five months
- Locations: La Loupe
At Wild Code School’s part-time Business Intelligence and Data Visualization Course, students acquire expertise in interpreting and analyzing data, along with creating powerful visual representations to drive effective decisions. The curriculum encompasses learning Tableau, one of the leading BI tools, SQL basics for data management, and fundamental statistical concepts, equipping learners with vital skills to emerge as proficient data analysts.
Data Visualization Courses at The Knowledge Academy
The Knowledge Academy is a comprehensive educational platform designed to equip students with a diverse range of professional and technical skills. Known for their versatility, they offer a variety of courses ranging from project management and IT service management to cyber security and data protection, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals ready to meet the demands of the evolving job market.
Data Analysis Skills
- Price: $1,135.16
- Duration: One day
- Locations: Several (see school website)
The Knowledge Academy's Data Analysis Skills course provides a comprehensive crash course into modern data analysis methods and strategies, including principles like statistical modeling, data collection and cleansing, and SQL database skills. The course excels in helping students understand the importance of data in the world today, and in providing effective techniques for delivering meaningful insights from complex data sets.
Data Visualization Courses at Ziggourat Formation
Ziggourat Formation is an educational center specializing in geological science, providing an intricate look into the formation and structure of Ziggourats. Students at Ziggourat Formation don't just get to understand the origin and evolution of Ziggourats but also acquire a fundamental knowledge of geological concepts, hands-on fieldwork experience, and insights into various scientific research methods.
Data Visualization
- Price: $2,792.80
- Duration: Four days
- Locations: Several (see school website)
At Ziggourat Formation, the Data Visualization course offers students the opportunity to master data visualization techniques to showcase business intelligence with clarity. They will learn to interpret complex data, create dynamic dashboards, design interactive visualizations, and how to optimally use tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Excel for expert reporting.
JavaScript and Data Visualization
- Price: $1,199.45
- Duration: Two days
- Locations: Several (see school website)
Ziggourat Formation offers a course titled JavaScript and Data Visualization that equips students with an understanding of how to leverage JavaScript for analyzing and interpreting complex datasets. The course curriculum not only equips participants with knowledge of data visualization libraries like D3.js and Three.js, but also covers SVG and Canvas for creating interactive and dynamic web interfaces, allowing students to synthesize information, create compelling visuals, and drive strategic insights.
Data Visualization Courses at B.itmap Akademie
B.itmap Akademie, situated in Berlin, offers students a multifaceted learning experience dedicated to digital media. Students gain an in-depth understanding of design, computer science, and media theory necessary for thriving in digital industries while fostering creativity, encouraging practical implementation, and enhancing critical thinking.
Visualize Data: How to Create Meaningful and Attractive Information Graphics with PowerPoint
- Price: $801.73
- Duration: Two days
- Locations: Cologne
At B.itmap Akademie's Visualize Data course, students delve into the nuances of crafting compelling and attractive informational graphics using PowerPoint. Building on a foundation of theoretical knowledge, the course guides learners in practically applying skills such as data aggregation and selection, graphical display creation, and overall layout design - all aimed at optimizing the delivery of data-enriched messages.
Key Information about Learning Data Visualization
In learning Data Visualization, one would traverse topics such as conducting exploratory data analysis, development and design of data dashboards, creating data-driven stories, understanding the principles of visual perception, and mastering graphical representation tools. It is an accessible field for beginners, however, the difficulty level vastly depends on the complexity of data sets and the desired outputs. The duration to learn Data Visualization varies with individual pace and commitment level, ranging typically from a few weeks to several months, contingent on the depth of understanding desired. A solid foundational knowledge of basic statistics and a fundamental understanding of popular programming languages such as Python or R can provide a head start in mastering Data Visualization. For technical setup, one requires software tools like Tableau, PowerBI, or open-source libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn in Python or ggplot2 in R, which is available for download from their official websites or through package managers like pip or CRAN.
Career Paths & Job Outlook for Data Visualization
According to The Upshot, jobs that require data visualization skills have increased by almost 3000% in the last decade. This is corroborated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which projects a 15% increase in demand for these positions by 2026. For entry-level positions that leverage data visualization, Glassdoor lists average salaries ranging from $51,000 to $105,000 per year. For experienced positions, these salaries can reach even higher, with the range extending up to $138,000 annually. Data visualization is leveraged by a variety of roles, including data analysts who use it to interpret complex data sets, digital marketers who use it to analyze consumer behavior, or project managers who use it to track project progress.
What Can You Do With Data Visualization?
With data visualization, one can create a myriad of outputs. In particular, a person can build visually striking and informative dashboards, allowing users to interact in real-time with their data. Tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Qlik are particularly useful for this purpose. Each of those tools comes with distinct functionalities such as drag-and-drop features, geolocation mapping, and customizable colors or data points. Moreover, by using libraries in Python or R, such as Matplotlib, Seaborn, or ggplot2, they can generate static or interactive plots and charts. These libraries provide the functionality to build various chart types like Bar, Line, Scatter, and Histogram among others.
Furthermore, using JavaScript libraries like D3.js, they can create elaborate and interactive data visualizations for the web. D3.js allows the manipulation of documents based on data and brings data to life using HTML, SVG, and CSS. Network analysis, geographical mapping, and heat maps are other possible creations. For instance, GIS software (like QGIS or ArcGIS) can generate geographical representations of data, whether they be heat maps, choropleth maps, or 3-D maps.
Similarly, tools like Gephi or libraries like NetworkX (Python) can facilitate network analysis and visualization. A high-level understanding of statistical concepts is crucial in data visualization. Mastery of data manipulation and scripting languages such as Python, R, or JavaScript is required to maximize the potential of these tools and libraries. Understanding principles of human perception and cognition, color theory, and design are also important skills for creating compelling and accurate data visualizations.
Finally, it's also possible to create data visualization art using tools like Processing or p5.js. One can also use data physicalization techniques where physical objects are used to represent data. In conclusion, the range of outputs one can create using data visualization is vast. The specific output will depend on the data at hand, the goals of the data visualization, and the tools, skills, and creativity of the individual working on it.
Top Data Visualization Tools For Beginners
- Tableau: Tableau is one of the most popular tools for data visualization. It is capable of transforming raw data into an understandable format without any technical skills required.
- Microsoft Power BI: Microsoft's Power BI is another great tool for data visualization that enables you to interact with your data, drill down into details, and create rich visuals.
- js: This is a JavaScript library that is used to create dynamic and interactive data visualizations in the web browser.
- Google Charts: This is a powerful, easy-to-use tool that provides a wide variety of charts and maps for web developers. It has a rich gallery and a wide variety of customizations.
- Plotly: Plotly is an open-source library that provides interactive graphing and statistical tools for multiple programming languages.
- Infogram: Infogram allows non-programmers to create interactive infographics and charts with ease. It's used by marketers, newsrooms, and teams to create visually appealing presentations.
- QlikView: QlikView is an intuitive, user-friendly analytics and data visualization tool.
- Fusion Charts: This is a JavaScript-based charting library that provides over 90 different types of charts and over 1000 maps that help to visualize data more interactively and enjoyably.
- Highcharts: Highcharts is an interactive charting library that is compatible with both desktop and mobile browsers.
- Sisense: Sisense is a business intelligence and data visualization tool that allows non-technical business users to analyze and visualize complex data. All these tools not only create beautiful and interactive visual interfaces but also allow deep analysis of data, thus helping businesses gain valuable insights and make data-driven decisions.
Data Visualization Comparison to Other Tools & Fields
Data visualization is related to various subjects, programming languages, and fields. A popular programming language that strongly correlates with data visualization is Python, which has libraries like Matplotlib, Seaborn, and Plotly for creating impressive visualizations. Similarly, R, the language explicitly designed for statistical computing, offers data visualization capabilities through packages like ggplot2.
Corresponding subjects involve data science and analytics, where visualization aids in understanding complex datasets, whereas fields like business intelligence and market research employ data visualization to analyze and interpret company data to make insightful decisions. While these disciplines have some differences in terms of actual applications, processes, and tools, they all share a central focus on effectively communicating data-driven insights through visualization.
Data Visualization Advantages
Data Visualization provides significant advantages such as making complex data more understandable, accessible, and usable. It allows viewers to see connections and recognize patterns that traditional numeric data representation cannot showcase. Moreover, data visualization also aids in quicker decision-making as it represents data in a digestible format, thus speeding up the absorption and analysis of information.