I've used Tableau just a little this year and I thought I'd share my year in Tableau AKA #DataMemories AKA #YearInTableau2017. To start the year I had simple goals when it came to all things Tableau. I'll get to those later. WARNING: THIS CHAIN IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED! 1/
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
I started my year off by building some statistical models and creating a simple visualization to show the #NFL MVP. The visual communicates complex math in a simple way. #YearInTableau2017 2/https://t.co/bnmArUHvTE pic.twitter.com/Yu4buIUELo
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
In February and March things get a little crazy around the office. I host a Oscar's-for-fun pool. I built a leaderboard dashboard for the Oscars. It's simple… but it's fun to watch as it's updated live! #YearInTableau2017 3/https://t.co/30d7N2MI3l pic.twitter.com/UPSfRXh5dJ
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
In March, I created a #NCAATournament dashboard that was information rich–something that might tell the story of each team–but was also carried a strong visual design. This also has my favorite use-case for parameters: Pagination! #YearInTableau2017 4/https://t.co/mtFqgcvSTh pic.twitter.com/aOUD5KnMnc
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Also: Legend Alert!! #YearInTableau2017 5/ pic.twitter.com/eyTk8oDQlZ
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
March was also time for the first #IronViz feeder: Maps! I wanted to do something that looked hand drawn so I came up with the idea to group multiple polygons by lat/long, layer them, set a low opacity, and shade by a common metric. #YearInTableau2017 6/https://t.co/m3HrVwf3gs pic.twitter.com/k1aQDzRDf9
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
For the next few months @pragerd and I were in deep with a retailer. We created data tools that would actually make data-driven decisions super-easy end-users. We have nothing to show, but we can tell you the products were jaw-dropping. #PrescriptiveTools #YearInTableau2017 7/
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Next up was the 2nd #IronViz feeder. Goal: as many marks on a view as possible. Also at the time I was playing around with joy plots (so was the rest of the world). Layered up multiple joy plots and boom! 500K marks rendered. #YearInTableau2017 8/https://t.co/MkoFw2bpoW pic.twitter.com/4pMAC382Gp
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
That was followed up with the #IronViz: Movie/TV Feeder. I wanted to do pseudo-NLP IN Tableau by predicting the quality of a movie based on a synopsis. I can say this is a truly one-of-a-kind Tableau creation. #YearInTableau2017 9/https://t.co/neAW0N1anq pic.twitter.com/62kG1cCYqH
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
The tool predicted revenue and meta-critic reviews: #YearInTableau2017 10/ pic.twitter.com/defq3WsN71
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Even the sentiment of the movie! Also: legend alert! #YearInTableau2017 11/ pic.twitter.com/nm6LxGx4Ub
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Most of the Summer I spent leading extended Tableau trainings – this meant less development time. I training teams internally and externally! The travel even took me to Prague!!! #YearInTableau2017 12/ pic.twitter.com/Nq5etAOgkf
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Side note: It's always great to hear/see people take big chunks of their job and automate it. I can say that at least 5 of the 75+ people I trained are saving more than 20% of their work-year after one week of using Tableau. Its just crazy! #YearInTableau2017 13/ pic.twitter.com/o7TPtgo0sC
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Also, in case you are wondering how far the training goes: with a lot of stretching we build this on Day 4. #YearInTableau2017 14/ pic.twitter.com/Wejm1TqplD
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
I digress, by this time in #YearInTableau2017 it's now #TC17. Best part: hanging with colleagues from different cities, which in consulting never happens. Also #Lifegoals: face in a board game happened (landed my own copy just yesterday)! #YearInTableau2017 15/
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Back to visuals: with some free time and little snark, I hammered out an eclipse visual. While some may disagree, I contend this visual was super-easy to make. So much I wrote a rare blog-post about it. #YearInTableau2017 16/
How to: https://t.co/FijtsmkO86 pic.twitter.com/UpWUfVq89o
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Next up: showing exaggerated flight paths on globe projection. NO HUMANS DO NOT FLY THAT FAR ABOVE EARTHS SURFACE!!! Development was difficult because the depth where planes disappear behind earth varied by "altitude" of the plane! #YearInTableau2017 17/https://t.co/RCJ7QHkAIF pic.twitter.com/IXo4SLgqKV
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
I worked on building 3D polygons from scratch in this case country borders. Rotating surfaces and reflective shading were added. Still working on a bigger project with this but here's what was last shared from the project: #YearInTableau 18/https://t.co/oqPw62PWwV pic.twitter.com/afHev7RHba
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
One last @tableaupublic viz: Race In America. A lot of time was spent researching color. Over 100 custom palettes were created to land on the perfect color schema for this visual. The legend took two evenings alone. #YearInTableau2017 18/https://t.co/iYkQTcEfgN pic.twitter.com/YdzMppfHF0
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
In the last 2 months I've also been building trainings for a client with 1000+ Desktop users (NOT a typo). Here's a glimpse into the training materials that will take users from novice to certification-ready. #YearInTableau2017 19/ pic.twitter.com/J2cOJGxQvK
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
In reflection, my #YearInTableau2017 was not one of significant @tableaupublic contributions. I didn't participate in #MakeoverMonday and my intentions to join in with #VizForSocialGood fell flat. #YearInTableau2017 20/ pic.twitter.com/s8ppqL5SKy
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
But I did accomplish my Tableau Public goal for the year: Create 4 visuals that are truly unique and show a range of technique. You pick the 4 but I’m partial to #Ironviz Maps #IronViz movies, Earth polygons, and Race in America. #YearInTableau2017 21/
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
I also was close on my training goals for the year: 90 new and adept Tableau Desktop users. Knowing I was able to lead trainings and workshops to diverse teams from 12 different countries makes me think close enough! #YearInTableau2017 22/
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
Of course I have other professional goals. 1A) Since many of us go mentor-less for critical stages of our careers: go above-and-beyond to be a mentor to teammates and others. For me: be intentional with ever interaction and show empathy, but always stretch. #YearInTableau2017 23/ pic.twitter.com/HJoxn9u91K
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
And 1B) Work with others to address diversity in data fields. There is momentum here and it's about tangible change by leaders everywhere. For our team rethinking what will make a great consultant, looking for greatness, creating a welcome environment, and increasing mentorship.
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017
As for my #YearInTableau2018 I’ll be less driven by goals and more by guidelines: 1) Quality over quantity; 2) Blow minds/melt faces; 3) Give context for meaning; 4) Ask better questions. 5) Don’t worry what others think. 25/25 pic.twitter.com/yF4ZvXuh2q
— Luke Stanke 📊 (@lukestanke) December 28, 2017