How to Learn Data Visualization

Data visualization is the act of presenting data using a graphical or pictorial format. It provides a way for decision-makers to access analytics in a way that breaks down complex concepts and underlying patterns into a visible, engaging format. The number of options for learning data visualization might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences. 

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning data visualization so you can decide how you’d like to get started.

What is Data Visualization?

Data visualization uses graphics like plots, charts, or animations to represent data findings. These visual depictions communicate complicated data relationships in an accessible and engaging format and have a range of applications for sharing data-driven insights with an organization’s internal and external stakeholders. Because an estimated 65% of the population comprises visual learners, data visualization provides a way to quickly and effectively convey data findings. Even though data visualization takes many forms, it shares the common goal of communicating otherwise complex data insights in a memorable and understandable way, even for those who don’t come from a technical background.

Each day, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are being created, which continues to grow exponentially. This increase in the amount of data has created a corresponding need for visualization practices to share the insights these numbers contain. Data visualization has a variety of uses across industries and professions. It has applications for describing trends or patterns hidden in data and communicating organizational structures or hierarchies. The data visualization process is typically broken into four purposes: to generate ideas, to illustrate concepts, to provide avenues into visual discovery, and to convey data in the form of visualizations.

Read more about what data visualization is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Data Visualization?

Those with the skills to create engaging and effective data visualizations have the power to communicate detailed data insights and findings to audience members from all backgrounds. Data visualizations provide a concise and interactive way to depict data trends. Visualizations incorporate color and contrast to present information like sales patterns so that audience members can quickly observe information that may be difficult to see from a graph or spreadsheet. In addition, another benefit of working with data visualizations is that they can provide perspective on the data by placing it in the context of a larger story, which can help audience members understand the information as it relates to an organization’s overall goals or bottom line. Context plays an integral role in helping audiences understand the entirety of the data being depicted, which would be difficult to convey by listing numbers in a table.

Data visualization also provides a better understanding of a business’s operations. Running a business requires staying on top of many moving parts, and data visualizations provide a tool that can depict multifaceted operations and how different business activities connect. Moreover, analyzing and visualizing data provides insights into important business metrics that can lead to smoother daily operations and more successful project execution. For organizations that sell products or services to customers, data visualizations offer crucial insights into customers’ preferences, demographics, and shopping patterns. They provide a way for organizations to use customer-focused data to explore brand perception, customer sentiments, and even what customers post about the product or service on social media outlets. Businesses can then use these insights to tailor marketing strategies and brand outreach.

In addition to providing customer insights and depicting important trends in the data, visualizations also tell a story. Information is presented in an easy-to-understand format, and the audience is taken on a journey that leads to an inevitable, data-driven conclusion. Just like a written story, a visual story has a strong beginning, a basic plot, and an ending that looks into the future, providing recommendations for how to move forward. Instead of requiring tens of thousands of words to tell this story, data visualizations can do so with a series of well-placed infographics, carefully worded labels, and brief descriptions of the content, all of which tell the story of data in the larger context of an organization’s needs and goals. 

In-Person Data Visualization Training

In-person data visualization training is an engaging and interactive way to study this field. It provides a way for students to connect with other learners in the traditional classroom environment and gives them access to an expert instructor who’s there to answer questions, provide guidance, and help with complex concepts. In-person study also includes a computer lab with the most up-to-date software and programs already installed. One consideration of in-person study is that it requires commuting to and from campus for regularly scheduled meetings. This may require taking off work, as well as an additional financial commitment of travel and parking. 

A variety of in-person data visualization classes are currently listed by top educational providers. Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is an excellent option for aspiring Business Analysts or Data Analysts. In this rigorous, hands-on course, participants work with in-demand skills, such as statistical analysis, data visualization, and database querying. All participants have the option of a free course retake and access to one-on-one mentoring included with tuition. Noble also offers an in-person Data Science Certificate, a beginner-friendly program that prepares participants for a career in data science or data analytics. Those enrolled receive instruction on manipulating databases, using Python’s extensive data science libraries for data analysis, and creating machine learning algorithms and models. 

Individuals interested in learning how to use Excel to analyze and visualize data may consider NYIM Training’s Excel for Business Bootcamp or Excel for Business Fundamentals. In addition, NYC Career Centers has several Tableau-related in-person classes available, such as Tableau Level 1, Tableau Level 2, and Tableau Bootcamp.

Live Online Data Visualization Training

Another excellent way to learn data visualization is in the live online format. Like in-person study, live online coursework provides an interactive, engaging platform for receiving hands-on data visualization training from industry experts. Participants have access to an instructor in real-time, which means they can ask questions and receive guidance as they learn core data visualization concepts. Since students can complete live online study remotely from the comfort of any home or office, it doesn’t require commuting to and from campus or battling rush-hour traffic to attend class. However, since this study format requires that students attend regularly scheduled meetings, those interested in live online data visualization classwork may still need to take time off work for class.

If you want to study data visualization in the live online format, many excellent learning options are available from top educational providers. Live online data visualization classes are offered in various topics, such as using Excel in business, Python for data science, machine learning, and Tableau. Noble Desktop has a live online Data Analytics Certificate, a project-based course in which students learn how to work with predictive analytics tools like forecasting and regression models, as well as prescriptive analytics tools like Solver and Scenario Manager. 

Noble also has a live online Python Machine Learning Bootcamp designed to teach students machine learning techniques for creating algorithms that can independently make decisions and identify patterns. In addition to the classes available from Noble, other courses are listed, such as Skillspire’s Intro to Data Analytics and its Deluxe Data Analytics Track. Ledet Training also offers Tableau 101, a beginner-friendly course that covers workflow management, data breakdowns, and guided data presentation. 

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you’re looking for an overview of data visualization rather than a time-intensive course, you can start learning to visualize data for free online. Noble Desktop offers a free data science webinar, which provides 80 minutes of instruction on the various applications of Python in the field of data science. Participants also receive a general overview of the field of data science, including the various skills required to be a Data Scientist and how to apply them to real-world data. This beginner-friendly video is a great first step for learners before they dive into a data science class or certificate program.

In addition to Noble’s free data science webinar, other top educational providers offer free beginner-friendly content on visualizing data. edX’s Introduction to Data Analysis Using Excel prepares learners to perform data analysis using Excel features. Students also receive instructions on creating PivotTables. Those interested in learning how to create data visualizations with Microsoft Power BI can enroll in Udemy’s Data Visualization with Power BI, which teaches learners how to create reports to convey data findings. Coursera’s Data Visualization is another free learning option. Participants in this 15-hour class receive instruction on data mining and pattern-based data classification.

Read more about free data visualization videos and online tutorials. 

On-Demand Data Visualization Classes

In addition to in-person and live online data visualization study options, another popular way to learn more about this topic is to enroll in self-paced study. Unlike live data visualization study, which meets at regularly scheduled intervals, asynchronous data visualization resources are often pre-recorded and pre-loaded, which means they can be watched or read at any time, and from any location. This makes them a popular learning option for those whose schedule requires the flexibility of fitting study in with other responsibilities, like full-time work or family functions. 

Self-paced data visualization study is an affordable method of learning. Whereas in-person or live online courses generally cost hundreds of dollars, and certificates can cost thousands, on-demand data visualization material is often available for much less, if not for free. In addition, because so many video resources and tutorials are available on data visualization, you can choose content most suited to your learning needs, such as short videos on specific visualization techniques or longer, more thorough overviews of the field of data analytics. However, it’s important to be aware that not all online content is created equally; when deciding which self-paced study material is best, you’ll want to consider which is the most up-to-date, which provides real-world examples, and which is presented in a manner that’s most accessible.

A variety of on-demand learning data visualization resources are available for those new to data analytics and visualization, as well as more advanced learners interested in mastering complex visualization tools and processes. Self-paced courses on general data visualization topics are currently offered, such as Udemy’s Data Storytelling and Data Visualization [2021] and Skillshare’s Introduction to Data Visualization: From Data to Design. In addition, Excel-specific training is also offered, such as Noble Desktop’s Top 10 Beginner Excel Tricks You Need to Know and Shaw Academy’s MS Excel Training Classes Online. 

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

The decision of which learning format is best for your data visualization study depends on several key factors. With so many different resources available to help beginners learn data visualization, you might be unsure which one is best for you. Everyone has distinct learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you. One of the best things about directing your own learning is that you get to pick which combination of tools you prefer rather than being forced to stick with those an instructor selects.

It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a data visualization learning method. If you must balance responsibilities like a full-time job or family commitments, you may not be able to devote the necessary time to a structured course that requires you to attend at the same time every day. In this case, a self-paced class or video tutorials may be better since you can access them as your schedule permits. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online. 

Why Learn Data Visualization?

Learning to visualize data findings and present them in a way that’s accessible to different audience members is an in-demand skill across industries and professions. We live in an increasingly visual culture, and the human eye is naturally drawn to patterns and colors. Data visualization tools provide a way to engage audience members and communicate an important message at the same time. By seeing information depicted in colorful plots or charts, it’s easy to spout outliers and patterns, as well as to identify trends. This makes it possible for audience members to internalize data findings more easily.

Data visualization is considered to be a form of visual storytelling. It offers an interactive format in which professionals can easily share information, explore opportunities, and examine past patterns or relationships to make educated forecasts about what may transpire. Whether the data visualization is basic or complex, it helps audience members be on the same page regardless of their level of expertise or background working with big data. Because of how widespread data visualization is in every industry, it’s one of the most valuable skills you can have in your professional toolbelt. Those with the ability to tell compelling, engaging data-driven stories with their visualizations have the power to educate and even sway audience members with the insights they find.

Read more about why you should learn data visualization. 

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

If you want to learn to visualize data, you may wonder how hard it is to create visualizations that convey data findings. The good news is that you can easily learn how to make basic data visualizations with practice and instruction. A lot of work goes into creating a professional-grade data visualization that properly balances various design elements to convey data results effectively. Just like learning a new language, the skills involved with creating compelling data visualizations can require learning new terms and principles and applying them to real-world information. 

Before learning to visualize data, you may consider learning several related skills to make the learning process easier and faster. First, it’s essential to understand the basics of data, such as how it’s stored, how to retrieve it, and how it’s analyzed. The more you know about data analysis, the easier it will be to visualize the results of the analytics process. In addition, another skill that can help you learn to visualize data faster is an understanding of basic design concepts. Effective data visualizations will convey significant data findings without too much text or information that overpowers the visual components. Reviewing core design concepts, such as color, contrast, white space, and visual flow, are just a few core design concepts that can help you create your own data visualizations.

Because data visualization is a broad category, many tools, platforms, and applications are available to help you analyze and visualize data. One of the most effective tools for data visualization is Tableau. If you are interested in using this visual analytics platform, Tableau Creator is available for $70/user/month. This package includes Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep Builder, and one Creator license for either Tableau Cloud or Tableau Server. In addition, a free trial of Tableau is also offered for those still deciding whether Tableau is the best option for their data visualization needs. In addition, Tableau Public is a free platform that helps those working with data create and share their data visualizations online. Tableau Public boasts the largest repository of data visualizations in existence. 

Read about how difficult it is to learn data visualization. 

Learn Data Visualization with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you’re interested in studying data visualization, Noble Desktop offers several in-person and live online courses that provide hands-on training. For those who wish to work with Tableau for visualizing data, Noble’s Tableau for Data Visualization Bootcamp is an excellent option. Participants receive an overview of the field of data visualization and learn about Tableau Public’s visualization tools. By course completion, students will have a solid understanding of identifying which datasets to connect to and how to analyze, filter, and organize data to make customized, publishable visualizations. This course also offers the option of a free retake for those interested in revisiting Tableau concepts. 

Noble’s in-person or live online Data Analytics Certificate is another good learning option for those seeking a more intensive study option. This rigorous program provides expert instruction on various data analytics concepts and prepares learners to become Business Analysts or Data Analysts. By course completion, all participants will be familiar with core business intelligence, statistical analysis, data analysis, and data visualization concepts. This is a project-based course in which students will complete various real-world projects using prescriptive and predictive analytics. All students receive one-on-one mentoring as part of tuition.

In addition, other in-person and live online data visualization courses are also available from Noble Desktop. Those who wish to learn the tools to become Data Scientists may consider enrolling in Noble’s Data Science Certificate, which covers machine learning, automation, SQL, and Python. A Python for Data Science Bootcamp covers fundamental and complex Python programming concepts, such as creating programs and using statistics to make machine learning models. 

The Excel Bootcamp is also available, which teaches core spreadsheet functions like working with macros, formulas, and PivotTables. Finally, those interested in working with SQL to extract information from databases can enroll in Noble’s SQL Bootcamp. This course prepares learners to write queries, aggregate data, and filter results using Postgre SQL.

Key Insights

• Data visualization is a form of visual storytelling that provides a way to share data insights in an interactive, visually engaging, and memorable format, even to those without a technical background.
• A variety of training formats are available for studying data visualization. If you prefer the traditional classroom environment, in-person study is a great option. For those who wish to complete coursework remotely, live online classes provide access to an instructor in real-time. In addition, self-paced study options like videos and tutorials are available online for those who must balance study with other personal and professional commitments.
• Data visualization has a range of uses across industries. It can communicate complex data insights in a way audience members can understand. It also can help present a better overall understanding of a company’s business operations. 
• Enrolling in one of Noble Desktop’s in-person or live online data visualization classes is an excellent way to learn more about data visualization.