Data visualization is the process of conveying information visually in a form like a graph or chart so it’s easier for audience members to understand and remember. By visually depicting the information contained in large datasets, it’s much easier and faster for patterns, outliers, and trends to be spotted from within the information. Even those from a non-technical background can access and interpret data visualizations, whereas it may be more difficult for these individuals to find patterns within the numerical data. Data visualization is a core component of the data science process in which data is first gathered, processed, and modeled before it can be visualized to yield conclusions. 

Many career paths rely on data visualization. It’s used to share key insights with stakeholders, provide overviews of an organization’s accumulated data, and visually depict advanced algorithms for easier interpretation. Because of its widespread use across industries and professions, learning data visualization is an in-demand skill that can lead to a high-paying career. Enrolling in a data visualization bootcamp is an excellent way to acquire the knowledge needed to advance in your current career or pursue a new career path entirely. Bootcamps offer hands-on training from those with industry experience analyzing and visualizing data. The skills you learn through study will help you contribute to your organization in meaningful ways and allow your organization to get the most out of the data it has collected.

What is Data Visualization?

Data visualization uses graphics like plots, charts, or animations to represent data findings. These visuals communicate complicated data relationships in an accessible and engaging format to an organization’s internal and external stakeholders who may not come from a technical background. Data visualization has applications across industries and professions, from data analytics to business intelligence. The data visualization process is typically broken into four goals: to generate ideas, illustrate concepts, provide avenues into visual discovery, and 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?

Data visualization provides a concise and interactive way to depict data trends. Visualizations incorporate design techniques like color and contrast so audience members can access information that may otherwise be difficult to comprehend. Data visualization can provide a better understanding of a business’s operations and how activities connect. It offers insights into important business metrics that can lead to smoother daily operations and successful project execution. Data visualization conveys specific insights into customers’ preferences, demographics, and shopping patterns. The information is presented in an easy-to-understand format, and the audience is taken on a journey that leads to a data-driven conclusion.

Why Learn Data Visualization in a Bootcamp or Class?

Studying data visualization in a class or bootcamp is an excellent way to learn this skill set. A range of coursework is available in data visualization, and learners can select from skills courses and career-focused training. Skills classes are generally offered at three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. These short classes usually take only a day of full-time study or several shorter sessions to complete. They provide pragmatic training in one data visualization program or tool, such as Tableau, Python, or Excel. Skills courses generally cost several hundred dollars and can be completed in-person or live online with a teleconferencing platform like Zoom.

Bootcamp instruction is also available from many in-person or live online educators. This learning method allows students to connect to an instructor in real-time, ask questions as needed, and receive immediate guidance. In-person bootcamps also allow students to connect with other learners, which is a great chance to network. In live online bootcamps, participants can even share their screen with the instructor (with permission) to receive additional help on more complicated data visualization concepts.

One of the main benefits of bootcamp study is its focus. Whereas college programs can take four or more years to complete and certificate study often spans months, bootcamps provide an accelerated learning path. Most bootcamps can be completed in just a few days and cost several hundred dollars. They offer learners a more focused course of study than other formats. Participants receive hands-on data analysis and visualization training that can help them perform better at their current job or explore new professional opportunities. Some bootcamps offer instruction on the entire data analytics process, whereas others focus on a specific visualization tool, such as Tableau, Power BI, or Excel. Many of these programs also provide additional incentives like career support services and professional development as part of tuition.

Bootcamps Compared to College

You may be curious whether studying data visualization in a college setting or bootcamp is better. Those who opt for college or university study spend four or so years earning a degree in a field related to data visualization. Because it is not a commonly offered major, those interested in learning to visualize data in college will likely need to major in a related field, such as data analytics or computer science. Most colleges require students to complete various general education classes to graduate. These courses span disciplines like philosophy, English, and history. This means that only a portion of coursework will be devoted to data-related study. Even within a data analytics or computer science major, some coursework that isn’t directly relevant to data visualization will likely be required, such as studying SQL or working with machine learning. 

Bootcamps, on the other hand, provide a more focused training format. Instead of spending years learning a range of skills, students can devote their full effort and attention to acquiring the skills needed to visualize data. Rather than taking years to complete, learners gain valuable training in several days of full-time study. They can complete coursework in person or remotely, and do so on weekdays, weekends, or weeknights. It is a flexible learning format for those who need to balance their studies around work or personal commitments. The data visualization skills acquired through bootcamp training can immediately be applied.

Another benefit of bootcamp study is cost. The current average cost for four-year college study in the US is over $35,000 annually. Instead of spending $140,000 on a degree in which only some coursework relates to data visualization, bootcamp participants acquire career-focused training for a few hundred dollars. Bootcamps also include additional features, such as career counseling or the option of a free course retake for up to one year, which may not be available in four-year degree programs.

Bootcamps Compared to Self-Paced Courses

Self-paced data visualization coursework is another learning option for those interested in acquiring this skill set. Self-paced training material is pre-recorded and posted online by many education providers. This flexible learning format allows participants to complete their studies as their schedule permits, around commitments like travel, family responsibilities, or full-time work. There’s no need to commute to attend asynchronous data visualization classes; all coursework can be completed remotely from any location with a stable internet connection. Another benefit of this form of study is that it allows learners to decide their own study pace. Students can pause content, rewind it, or watch it as often as necessary to fully grasp the information. They can choose whether to complete a course in a few hours or to devote days to their studies and pace out learning.

Self-paced data visualization material takes many forms. Full courses are available that require days or weeks to complete. Other content is much shorter. YouTube videos, for example, may only span several minutes and deal with one skill or concept, such as formatting or publishing a data visualization. Other online content may be more comprehensive and provide an overview of the field of data visualization as well as some of the most common tools and software for visualizing data. For self-motivated learners who have the drive to work independently, this training format can be a great way to get started analyzing and visualizing data.

Cost is an important consideration when enrolling in coursework. Self-paced material is often a more affordable study option than bootcamps since it does not provide real-time instruction. Learners can find self-paced data visualization content for under a hundred dollars. Some material is even posted for free from top educators. However, because no instructor is present to answer questions, it may be hard to acquire advanced data visualization training through asynchronous material. This is why students typically can get started learning to visualize data through self-paced coursework. To fully master more advanced visualization practices and skills for professional reasons, a more structured learning format may be necessary, such as a live online bootcamp.

Because so much asynchronous content is available online, it can also be challenging to know which reflects the most up-to-date information on data visualization. This can make it hard for some learners to decide which content is best suited to their learning level and needs. It’s important to research the educational provider you choose for data visualization training to ensure they’re reputable before committing to self-paced study.

Bootcamps Compared to Free Training Options

Many educators offer free data visualization training options. These resources include online blogs, tutorials, and video content. Because they don’t require a financial commitment, free coursework is a low-stakes way to start learning this skill set. Rather than having to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars into a bootcamp or certificate program, students can instead get a feel for what data visualization is, as well as the most popular tools used to visualize data, without breaking the bank. Free coursework often provides an overview of how to visualize data and the professional applications of this set of skills. 

Unlike most bootcamps, free online data visualization content is pre-recorded. This means that no live instructor is available to offer support or guidance as you complete your studies. Some free content is short, such as YouTube videos, which may only require several minutes of time. Other free training materials may take hours to complete and offer a more robust exploration of data visualization techniques. Learners interested in getting started with data visualization can select one or more free training options. However, those who need to learn to visualize data for professional reasons, such as to complete an impending work project or to advance into a new professional role, will likely eventually need to enroll in more structured coursework that includes access to an instructor, like an in-person Tableau bootcamp. Otherwise, it can be difficult to master the more challenging data visualization skills in a fully independent learning environment.

Learn Data Visualization Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has in-person and live online data visualization training. Tableau for Data Visualization Bootcamp instructs students on how to use Tableau Public’s visualization tools. Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate teaches core business intelligence, statistics, data analysis, and data visualization concepts. 

Aspiring Data Scientists can enroll in Noble’s Data Science Certificate to study machine learning, automation, SQL, and Python. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp provides instruction on how to use statistics to make machine learning models. Noble’s Excel Bootcamp teaches fundamental spreadsheet functions, including macros, formulas, and PivotTables. Those interested in working with SQL can enroll in Noble’s SQL Bootcamp.

Key Takeaways

• If you’re ready to learn to visualize data, a range of excellent study options is available in person and online. In-person and live online bootcamps provide hands-on training in real-time with an expert instructor.
• For those interested in learning data visualization, bootcamps provide a great alternative to four-year university study. Not only are they a much less expensive learning option, but their accelerated focus allows participants to gain hands-on data visualization training in just several days versus having to commit four or more years to their studies.
• Self-paced data visualization training material is available for those who wish to learn this skill set on their own. Asynchronous material includes full courses, online tutorials and blogs, and pre-recorded videos. Some self-paced content is even available for free from reputable educators.
• Noble Desktop provides comprehensive training in data analytics and data visualization. Students who wish to explore this in-demand skill set can select from in-person and live online learning options.