Introduction

Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool that enables users to create interactive and visually appealing dashboards. As organizations seek more advanced ways to represent and interpret data, it is crucial for professionals to develop advanced skills in designing dashboards that not only convey insights but also engage users. This course focuses on teaching participants how to design sophisticated, interactive, and optimized dashboards using Tableau, with a strong emphasis on advanced visualization techniques, user experience (UX) principles, and performance optimization.

Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of dashboard design to ensure both usability and visual appeal.
• Utilize advanced Tableau features for creating complex, interactive dashboards.
• Integrate multiple data sources effectively into Tableau for a cohesive dashboard experience.
• Apply best practices for visual storytelling, focusing on layout, interactivity, and audience engagement.
• Master the use of Tableau Calculations (e.g., LOD expressions, table calculations) to create sophisticated metrics.
• Design dashboards with dynamic interactivity, including filters, parameters, and actions to enhance user experience.
• Optimize Tableau dashboards for performance and scalability.
• Work with real-time data and incorporate external integrations (e.g., web data connectors) for up-to-date dashboards.
• Deploy and share dashboards with a team or organization, ensuring accessibility and security.

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for:

• Experienced Tableau users who want to refine their dashboard design skills
• Data analysts and business intelligence professionals looking to advance their dashboard design techniques
• Tableau power users who wish to deepen their understanding of advanced features and best practices
• Tableau Server/Online administrators who want to improve the performance and usability of dashboards for large teams
• Data visualization enthusiasts who aim to create dashboards that drive business insights and decisions

Course Outline

Day 1: Advanced Tableau Concepts for Dashboard Design

• Review of Tableau Basics: Quick refresher on core Tableau features and terminology
• Understanding the Dashboard Lifecycle: Planning, designing, testing, and deploying Tableau dashboards
• Tableau Best Practices for Dashboard Design: Principles of effective design, alignment, and consistency
• Working with Multiple Data Sources: Blending, joining, and relationships between data sources
• Table Calculations and Aggregations: Using complex table calculations for advanced metrics
• Advanced Data Connections: Working with live data sources and extracts for efficient dashboard performance
• Intro to Advanced Features: Calculated fields, Level of Detail (LOD) expressions, and dynamic date filters
• Case Study: Designing a Basic Dashboard
• Hands-on Session: Connecting Multiple Data Sources and Creating Calculated Fields

Day 2: Interactive Dashboards and User Engagement

• Building Interactive Dashboards: Designing dashboards with interactivity (filters, highlight actions, URL actions)
• Parameters in Dashboards: Using parameters for dynamic interactivity (e.g., switching between measures, dates, and views)
• Dashboard Actions: Implementing filter actions, highlight actions, and URL actions to engage users
• Designing for Audience Needs: Understanding your audience and designing dashboards that match user preferences
• Dynamic Titles and Labels: Creating titles and dynamic labels that reflect user selections and filter choices
• Use of Tooltips: Creating custom tooltips to provide additional context and information to the dashboard users
• Creating Drill-down and Drill-through Capabilities: Allowing users to explore data in greater depth
• Case Study: Designing an Interactive Sales Dashboard with Filters and Actions
• Hands-on Session: Building Parameterized Dashboards with Drill-Down Capabilities

Day 3: Advanced Visualization Techniques

• Advanced Visualizations for Dashboard Design: Heat maps, bullet charts, Gantt charts, and Pareto charts for specialized analysis
• Creating Custom Visualizations: Using Tableau’s calculated fields and dual-axis charts for customized visualizations
• Geospatial Dashboards: Using Tableau’s mapping features to create geospatial visualizations for location-based insights
• Advanced KPI Dashboards: Designing KPI-based dashboards using bullet graphs, gauges, and sparkline charts
• Storytelling with Data: Crafting a narrative with data visualizations that drive action and decision-making
• Using Hierarchies and Groups in Dashboards: Creating logical groupings and hierarchies for improved data exploration
• Designing Dashboards for Mobile: Optimizing dashboards for different screen sizes and mobile devices
• Case Study: Creating a Geospatial Dashboard for Sales Performance
• Hands-on Session: Building Advanced Visualizations with Custom Calculations and Dual-Axis Charts

Day 4: Optimizing Dashboard Performance and Scalability

• Optimizing Dashboard Performance: Best practices for ensuring that dashboards run efficiently on large datasets
• Reducing Load Times: Minimizing slow performance by using data extracts, optimizing filters, and limiting unnecessary calculations
• Extract vs. Live Connection: Deciding between using live connections and extracts based on dashboard needs
• Improving Dashboard Speed: Performance tuning techniques such as aggregating data, limiting the number of marks, and reducing complex calculations
• Working with Large Datasets: Techniques for handling big data and preventing slow rendering
• Best Practices for Data Source Management: Organizing, managing, and optimizing data sources for quick access
• Testing and Debugging Dashboards: Identifying performance bottlenecks and debugging dashboard issues
• Case Study: Optimizing an E-commerce Dashboard for Large Product Catalogs
• Hands-on Session: Performance Tuning and Optimization for Dashboards

Day 5: Deployment, Sharing, and Collaboration

• Deploying Dashboards on Tableau Server or Tableau Online: Managing and publishing dashboards for organizational use
• Securing Dashboards: Implementing user permissions, row-level security, and data access controls
• Sharing Dashboards via Tableau Public: Exploring options for sharing Tableau dashboards publicly or within a secure network
• Embedding Dashboards in External Websites: How to embed Tableau dashboards in web pages or SharePoint
• Using Tableau Extensions and Integrations: Enhancing dashboard capabilities with Tableau extensions, API integrations, and embedding external content
• Collaboration and Feedback: Collaborating with teams, stakeholders, and business users for feedback and iteration
• Best Practices for Version Control: Managing different versions of dashboards and collaborating with teams
• Monitoring and Maintenance: Monitoring Tableau Server performance and maintaining dashboards over time
• Final Project: Designing a Fully Interactive Dashboard with Real-Time Data Integration
• Hands-on Session: Publishing Dashboards and Collaborating with Users in Tableau Server