@ericbalash.bsky.social
Tableau Visionary & 5x Tableau Public Ambassador | Data Viz at NFCU #VizOfTheDay x4 | The Tableau Student Guide & Back 2 Viz Basics Lead #B2VB
📢#B2VB 2026 Week 3: Dot Plots
We’re comparing pet populations across the globe!
The Goal: Use a dot plot to show the spread or ranking of cat and dog ownership by country.
To Participate:✅ Build your viz ✅ Post with #B2VB ✅ Tag us & submit!
🔗Data: bit.ly/45V13Jx
🚨#B2VB Week 2: Line Charts
We're mastering the basics by looking at U.S. Airline profits from 2015–2024.
The Goal: Visualize how profits evolved before, during, and after the pandemic.
To Participate: ✅ Build your viz ✅ Post with #B2VB ✅ Tag us & submit!
🔗 Data: bit.ly/4k5WPoi
Our Submissions Tracker is REVAMPED!
We’ve officially updated the tracker on Tableau Public with a brand-new look.
⚠️ The 2026 Challenge: If you complete every challenge this year, you’ll earn a spot in our elite #B2VB All-Stars group! Start your streak today!
🔗 Tracker: tabsoft.co/4sK3SXy
📢 #B2VB 2026 Week 1: Build a Bar Chart
Back to basics! We're mastering the bar chart using WEF Youth Pulse 2026 data.
The Mission: Rank the economic trends shaping the future.
To Participate: ✅ Build your viz ✅ Post with #B2VB ✅ Tag us & submit on our site!
🔗 Data: bit.ly/4bpD2h6
🌟 Back 2 Viz Basics returns this Monday!
We’re kicking off a new year of foundational #DataViz challenges. Open to all skill levels and any BI tool.
Check the graphics below for a refresher on what we're all about. Let's build those skills in 2026!
#B2VB #DataFam #DataVisualization
I've been reframing this as “Relative Productivity.”
Not: “Did I finish everything?”
But: “Given my real constraints today, what did I actually move forward?”
I wrote a deeper breakdown on this:
- Substack: tinyurl.com/3ap4cu9d
- Medium: tinyurl.com/ycy5fcr8
One week into 2026 and the productivity pressure is already in full swing.
Roadmaps. Big goals. Perfect schedules.
Here’s the trap: measuring your day against the version of yourself that had unlimited time and energy...
AKA Toxic Productivity
2025 was an incredible year for Back 2 Viz Basics!
A massive shoutout to our 2025 All-Stars:
- Ann Stolzman, Kyeongseok Min, and Natsumi Goto for completing all 25 challenges!
- Izumi, Raisa Hannus, and Yasushi Ishikawa for getting close!
2026 kicks off soon!!
#B2VB
Curious to hear if anyone has any data viz resolutions for 2026?!
31.12.2025 16:48 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
That’s a wrap on 2025!
A huge thank you to the Back 2 Viz Basics #B2VB community for an amazing year. Our goal is to help everyone build dataviz foundations with no barriers to entry regardless of the tool you use. Your participation make this project possible.
We’ll be back in 2026! See you soon!
🚨Week 25 of Back 2 Viz Basics is live!
Challenge: Use an Image URL
Our final challenge of 2025! Create a personal portfolio dashboard using the Image URL feature to showcase your favorite #B2VB vizzes from the year. We appreciate your support this year and can't thank you enough!
🔗 bit.ly/3MBBaYs
📢 Dashboard Design Lab: Week 4 - Fonts & Typography.
Text is the foundation of your dashboard structure. If your fonts are fighting, your users are struggling.
📬Substack: tinyurl.com/4yrzjr2z
✏️Medium: tinyurl.com/yj3jd4ud
#DataViz #PowerBI #Tableau #DataStorytelling
Dashboard refresh complete: New metric added → Baby Balash (March 2026) 🩵
19.11.2025 12:36 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Week 23 of Back 2 Viz Basics is live!
Challenge: Build a Map
We’re wrapping up our collab with Visual Climate! Use the same climate dataset from last week to explore emissions, CO₂ intensity, or temperature change across countries. #B2VB
Prompt: bit.ly/4paDvr6
Tag us!
📢 Dashboard Design Lab: Week 3
This week’s topic is Color Theory and Usage. Color should guide attention and support the story, not distract from it.
📬Substack tinyurl.com/5n78vy98
✏️Medium tinyurl.com/wn4be7fd
#DataVisualization #PowerBI #Tableau
🚨Week 22 of Back 2 Viz Basics is live!
Challenge: Design for Accessibility
We are kicking off a two-week collab with Visual Climate. This week is all about creating an accessible chart or dashboard using climate data.
Challenge details: bit.ly/3XfnSm9
Tag us! #B2VB
💡Started a new blog series called Dashboard Design Lab, sharing what our team is learning each week about building better dashboards in #Tableau and #PowerBI.
Week 1: Designing to a Grid.
📬 Substack: tinyurl.com/4h7n2p6a
✏️ Medium: tinyurl.com/ymp45krm
🚨Week 21 of Back 2 Viz Basics is live!
Challenge: Use a Date Calculation
Data: US Government shutdowns since 1976
Link: bit.ly/4qo7pK4
Share, Submit, and Tag us!
#B2VB #Tableau #DataVisualization #GovernmentData
🚨Week 20 of Back 2 Viz Basics is here!
🔹Challenge: Build a Heat Map
🔹Dataset: @Ipsos Health Service Report 2024: showing how concern for mental health varies across 31 countries.
🔹Link to Prompt: bit.ly/46SEFQF
Don't forget to tag us! #B2VB #Tableau #DataChallenge
Week 19 of Back 2 Viz Basics is here!
Challenge: Build a Unit Chart
Dataset: Most downloaded Google apps in 2025.
Show how apps compare using units instead of bars.
Challenge: bit.ly/4mvjUAf
#B2VB #Tableau #DataChallenge
🚨 Week 18 of Back 2 Viz Basics is live!
Challenge: Design a Wireframe
Collab with Real World Fake Data:
#B2VB = wireframe
#RWFD = dashboard
Dataset: Call Center Performance with call records, agents, CSAT, and sentiment.
Challenge: bit.ly/46skdH6
Share, submit, and tag us!
🚨Week 17 of Back 2 Viz Basics is Live!
This week’s topic: Design some KPIs.
We’re using data from the UK Gov’s Wine Cellar (yes, they have one). The dataset tracks stock, usage, costs, and revenues from 2022 to 2024. #B2VB
Challenge: bit.ly/4mxoS0h Share & Tag us!
🚨 Week 16 of Back 2 Viz Basics is live!
This week’s challenge: Build a Likert Scale Chart
We’re using YouGov survey data on how Americans feel about summertime activities. #B2VB
🔗Challenge: bit.ly/4fGmLEM
Share and Tag us!
🚨 Week 15 of Back 2 Viz Basics is live! This week’s challenge: Use a parameter. We’re using EV sales data from 2010 to 2024.
Challenge: bit.ly/4o4rMKV
Share and Tag us! #B2VB #Tableau
🚨 Week 14 of Back 2 Viz Basics is LIVE! This week’s challenge: Build a Box Plot. We’re using Starbucks matcha data to explore how sugar, calories, caffeine, and more vary across sizes. #B2VB
Prompt: bit.ly/4nImvc1
Share your viz and don't forget to tag us!
🚨 Week 13 of Back 2 Viz Basics is LIVE! This week’s challenge: Use an annotation. We’re working with data on the most expensive sports team sales ever. Highlight a key story or insight with a clear annotation.
Prompt: bit.ly/3G5BT17
Tag us! #B2VB #DataViz #SportsData
Spent the last couple weeks traveling through Southern Spain and Casablanca.
Met some awesome people and reconnected with old friends along the way. It was a much-needed reset. Feeling clear-headed, recharged, and ready to get back into the swing of things!
🚨 Week 11 of Back 2 Viz Basics is LIVE! We’re teaming up with the Data Pride TUG to highlight Pride events across the U.S. This week’s challenge: Build a Gantt Chart to show when and where celebrations are happening in June.
Challenge: bit.ly/3T8Ec68
#B2VB #DataPride
🚨 Week 10 of Back 2 Viz Basics is LIVE!
For #AANHPI Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting data from AAPI Data/AP NORC showing how AANHPI adults prioritize issues like healthcare, housing, and education.
This week’s focus: Percent of Total.
Challenge: bit.ly/4dl93pw
🚨Week 9 of Back 2 Viz Basics is LIVE!
This week we’re using Viz in Tooltip to add insight without clutter. Explore global digital quality of life data and show trends at a glance. #B2VB
Challenge: bit.ly/4jCnEzm
Share and Tag us!!
