Tips for #MakeoverMonday

Having to analyse and improve a data visualisation in 1 hour is overwhelming and hard to know where to start. Here are some key factors to consider when participating in a Makeover Monday.

Firstly, its important to look over the original data visualization and figure out what it is showing and what can be improved. This will give you a clear understanding of what you are trying to display in your version. Looking through the data will also help you figure out which fields are relevant and what the data is showing.

Once you have a good understanding of what the data shows and how to improve the original visualisation, play around with the data and create a range of charts. If you are feeling stuck, try look at previous MakeoverMondays for inspiration! The different charts will show different trends or insights from your data and its up to you to determine what you want to display. I find it useful to colour the sheets that I am most interested in. Once you know which charts are most useful, it is often helpful to return to them and see if you can gain further insights from them, perhaps adding filters or parameters (depending on how much time you have left).

The final part of the challange is formatting the visualisation. Often the Makeover Monday has useful charts which are not clear or formatted in the best way possible. Make sure the figures are clear, the colours are consistent and maybe add a few BANs (Big Ass Numbers).

MakeoverMonday is a useful way to develop your tableau skills, but the best way to improve is by practicing and participating as often as you can! I also find it useful to watch Andy Kriebel's Videos (Watch me Viz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZREVC3jayU&list=PLX-uPHRG0cLb697Ie-ZGSObRLLNhxzJGK). These are really helpful when you are thinking of which charts to use or how to structure your dashboard. Good luck!

Author:
Keren Aharon
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