Become aData Visualisation Specialist

Becoming a Data Visualisation Specialist is like being a high tech magician. You’ll take boring data and turn it into something beautiful and understandable. It’s a career that’s in high demand, and you’ll have the chance to work on projects that matter. Plus, you’ll get to use your creativity every day!

• Turn complex data into snappy visuals
• Help people understand trends and insights quickly
• Work with tech, design, and data teams
• Create impactful presentations for decision-makers

A Data Visualisation Specialist creates visual representations of data that tell a story. You’ll use tools like graphs, charts, and maps to make complex information easy to understand. This can involve working with big data sets, designing dashboards, and even creating interactive visualisations for websites and apps.

As a Data Visualisation Specialist, your skills are needed in many industries. Here are a few you might find interesting:

Healthcare

Help doctors and researchers make sense of medical data to improve patient care.

Education

Create engaging visual aids that help students learn and teachers teach more effectively.

Sports
Analyse performance data to help teams and athletes improve their game.

Business

Assist companies in understanding their sales, marketing, and financial data to make better decisions.

Entertainment

Visualise data for video games, movies, and TV shows to enhance storytelling and audience engagement.

To be a successful Data Visualisation Specialist, you’ll need a mix of technical and creative skills. Here are some key skills:

Creativity

To design engaging and visually appealing graphics.

Technical Proficiency

To use data visualisation tools and software.

Analytical Thinking

To interpret complex data sets.

Communication

To explain your visuals to others clearly.

STEAM subjects give you a head start in becoming a Data Visualisation Specialist:

Mathematics

Helps you understand and analyse data.

Art

Enhances your design and creativity skills.

Computer Science

Teaches you the technical skills needed to use visualisation tools.

Statistics

Essential for interpreting data accurately.

Geography

Useful for creating maps and spatial data visualisations.

As a Data Visualisation Specialist, you’ll do some pretty amazing things:

Create a Trend Tracker for Your Favourite Brands

Build interactive dashboards that let fashion brands see what’s hot and what’s not! Help them track sales, customer preferences, and seasonal trends, so they can make the perfect product choices every time.

Work with the Matildas Sports Stats

Transform match stats for Australian women’s sports teams like the Matildas into exciting, interactive game recaps that highlight the winning goals, nail biting saves, and player performances. Bring the game to life for fans and keep them cheering!

Become a TikTok Pro

Create eye catching visual stories from Instagram or TikTok data, showing influencers and brands what’s trending and what posts are popping off. Your visual flair will help them stay on top of the social scene!

Visualise the Devastation of Climate Change

Turn climate data into powerful yet easy-to-understand graphics that show the impact of global warming. Help activists, scientists, and young ecowarriors advocate for our planet with powerful visuals.

Design Lifesaving Health Insights

Create clear and impactful visuals that help doctors and nurses understand patient data, like which treatments are most effective or how patient health is improving. Your designs could save lives!

Make Boring Topics Fun!

Turn complex share market data into dynamic, easy-to-read visuals for young investors. Help them see where to put their money and understand the trends that matter, making finance a little less intimidating and a lot more fun!

Here are Data Visualisation Specialists making progress in data:

Amanda Cox

A data editor at The New York Times, Amanda creates visually engaging pieces that help readers understand complex topics.

Giorgia Lupi

An information designer who transforms data into beautiful, engaging visual narratives. Giorgia’s work blends art and data science seamlessly.

Catherine Ball

A leading expert in technology and innovation, Ball uses data visualisation in her work with drones and environmental monitoring, turning vast datasets into engaging visuals that aid conservation efforts.

Dr. Theresa Anderson

A data science expert known for her work in human-centred data visualisation, Anderson specialises in making complex datasets accessible and relatable to the public.

Kristen Boschma

As a digital strategist, Boschma focuses on data-driven storytelling, using visualisation to communicate insights across media, technology, and creative industries.

Sally Bagshaw

A specialist in business intelligence, Bagshaw uses data visualisation to create strategic insights that drive decision-making for corporations and organisations.

To excel as a Data Visualisation Specialist, certain personality traits are beneficial:

Creative

You need to think outside the box to create engaging visuals.

Detail Oriented

Accuracy is key when working with data.

Curious

A natural curiosity helps you explore and understand new data sets.

Persistent

Some data projects can be challenging, and persistence will help you see them through.

Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems

A good starting point is to pursue a degree in data science, information technology, graphic design, or a related field. Murdoch University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems, which covers key skills like data analytics, visualisation, and communication.

Master of Predictive Analytics

To further specialise, postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Data Science or a Master of Visualisation, Simulation and Immersive Design can help you refine your skills. Curtin University offers a Master of Predictive Analytics, which includes coursework on data visualisation tools and techniques, providing advanced skills in turning data into visuals.

Studying to become a Data Visualisation Specialist can be even more interesting when you combine it with other fields. Imagine pairing your computer science degree with graphic design to create stunning and functional data visuals. Or, you could mix business analytics with data science to help companies make smart decisions. These interdisciplinary studies not only make your skills more versatile but also open up more job opportunities.

Combining degrees or taking a double major can make you a unique candidate in the job market. For instance, studying both computer science and statistics can give you the technical skills needed to handle large datasets and the analytical skills to make sense of them. This combination is perfect for creating powerful visualisations that tell a story.

You can also enhance your degree with other types of learning, like online courses and workshops. Many universities offer special programs that let you take classes from different departments. This flexibility means your education can fit your interests and career goals.

When you study to become a Data Visualisation Specialist, you’ll learn a mix of technical and creative skills like programming languages like Python and R, which are essential for handling data. 

You’ll also get to:

• Play with design tools like Adobe Illustrator and Tableau to create beautiful visuals.
• Learn about data analysis, where you’ll figure out how to make sense of huge amounts of data. 
• Master statistics to find patterns and trends in numbers. 
• Discover how to turn data into compelling stories that people can easily understand and enjoy.
• Learn ethics in data, ensuring you handle all information responsibly and accurately.

Plus, you’ll get hands-on experience with real data projects. This means you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when you start your career.

Gaining work experience is a fantastic way to start your journey as a Data Visualisation Specialist. You could work with a local business to help them understand their sales data or assist a not for profit in visualising their impact.

Many companies offer apprenticeship or trainee programs where you can learn on the job. This hands-on experience can be just as valuable as a university degree, if not more. You’ll get to work with experienced professionals and learn the ropes in a workplace setting.

Technical Certification

Gaining proficiency in software such as Tableau, Power BI, and D3.js is essential. Completing certifications from platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or Udemy can help boost your skills in these tools, making you more competitive in the job market. Learning Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and other design tools can enhance your ability to create visually stunning graphics alongside data insights.

Bootcamps and Workshops

Intensive bootcamps, such as those offered by General Assembly, can provide hands-on experience and practical skills in a short time. These are ideal for those looking to quickly enter the field.

Professional Organisations and Networking

Join organisations like the Data Visualization Society to connect with professionals and stay updated on industry trends3. Networking can open doors to job opportunities and collaborations.

Microlearning

Online platforms like Udacity, and edX offer courses specifically focused on data visualisation. These courses often provide certificates that can boost your resume. You can learn at your own pace and focus on the skills that interest you the most.

On-the-Job Training

Data Visualisation Specialists are in high demand, offering career opportunities in a variety of industries and locations. 

Western Australia

In Western Australia, there are growing opportunities in the mining and resources sector. Companies need Data Visualisation Specialists to help make sense of geological data and improve operational efficiency. Perth, being a tech hub, also offers roles in tech startups and established IT firms.

Australia

Across Australia, Data Visualisation Specialists are in demand in various sectors including finance, healthcare, and government. Cities are home to large corporations and institutions that rely on data visualisation for decision making and strategic planning. Get connected with the Statistical Society of Australia https://statsoc.org.au/Statistical-Computing-and-Visualisation-Section