Data visualization lets you present information with visual and interactive elements so analysts and executives can easily digest data and generate powerful insights. It incorporates elements like graphs, charts, and maps, making it essential for any 21st-century company looking to remain competitive in a digital data-driven landscape.
Some of the most significant developments in data visualization in recent years include:
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The rise of big data: The increasing availability of large datasets has led to the development of new techniques and tools for visualizing and analyzing data.
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Interactive visualizations: Interactive visualizations allow users to explore and manipulate data in ways that were not previously possible, making it easier to gain insights and understanding.
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The development of new chart types: New chart types, such as tree maps, scatterplots, and chord diagrams, have been developed to better represent specific types of data.
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Virtual and augmented reality for data visualization: Virtual and augmented reality technologies have been used to create immersive data visualizations that allow users to interact with and explore data in new ways.
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Artificial intelligence and machine learning for data visualization: These technologies have been used to automate the process of creating visualizations and uncover patterns and trends in data that would be difficult for humans to detect.
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Data visualization for storytelling: Data visualization has increasingly been used as a tool for storytelling, allowing organizations to communicate complex ideas and information in a more engaging and accessible way.
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Data visualization for social and political change: Data visualization has been used to raise awareness and advocate for social and political issues, such as climate change and human rights.
These developments have increased the importance of data visualization astronomically over the past two decades, so trade shows, conferences offering courses and workshops, and vendors of the tools, skill sets, and strategies that aid successful data visualization have grown as well.
What You Can Expect at Data Visualization Conferences in 2023
If you work with data visualization, you probably won't be using a VR headset to view dashboards in the near future. While it's always exciting to see flashy new tech in the field, 2023 is likely to focus more on practical improvements to existing solutions that can help with usability, understanding, engagement, and adoption in a business setting. However, there are still some interesting new ideas and tech applications to look out for in the coming year.
Here are some of the biggest data visualization trends of 2023. Expect to learn more about these topics at upcoming data visualization conferences this year.
UX Taking Center Stage
It's great to see that more and more companies are beginning to place a greater emphasis on UX design. This human-centered, iterative approach is crucial for creating meaningful experiences that truly meet the needs of users. It's especially encouraging to see UX becoming the foundation of product development, including the creation of data visualizations for BI dashboards.
As the amount of data being collected continues to grow, there's an increasing need to clearly and effectively present complex information in a way that's easy to understand and can support decision-making. We're pretty confident that UX design will become the standard framework for developing effective data visualizations, including analytics dashboards, as more organizations recognize the benefits of this approach.
Tech Features Help Foster Tool Adoption
While a tool or platform's technical features are important — think of the tree in the forest that no one hears — those features don't mean anything if no one is actually using the tool. That's why it's crucial for tool and program developers to prioritize features that drive adoption, like those that improve data literacy. These features not only increase the product's value, but they also help build trust and strengthen data governance capabilities among business users. In the future, we can expect to see more tools with tech features emerging to further foster wider acceptance.
Accessibility Becomes Hyperfocused
In recent years, accessibility has gained significant attention. Around the world, governments are enacting legislation that ensures individuals with disabilities have equal access to information in digital formats. The European Accessibility Act, for example, will require public companies in the European Union to make digital products and services user-friendly for those with disabilities. This requirement is currently slated to take effect in 2025, so we can expect to see a ramping up of related efforts starting this year.
To meet these requirements, companies are looking into multiple solutions. These include using color palettes for the visually impaired, alt text capabilities for keyboard navigation and screen readers, and even testing innovative methods like graph sonification, which brings charts to life for the visually impaired using sound waves.
Data Storytelling
Data storytelling is a hot topic that has been around for a while, and it's not going anywhere anytime soon — and for good reason! It's a powerful way to communicate insights by highlighting key takeaways from data rather than just presenting a bunch of numbers and charts.
And when it comes to technology, AI is making a big impact by using natural language generation to package and communicate information in a way that feels more human. Tableau, for instance, has also made strides with its Data Stories feature, which automatically generates data stories around trends and anomalies to provide actionable insights for business stakeholders and enhance traditional reporting.
The Continuing Rise of Dark Mode
Have you noticed that dark mode seems to be everywhere these days? From Behance and Pinterest to Tableau Public, it seems like every data visualization and dashboard design is rocking the dark look. It's not exactly a new trend — dark mode has been around for decades, and in fact, the first computer screens were dark by default.
But in recent years, tech giants like Apple and Microsoft have made it easier for users to switch to dark mode on their operating interfaces, and it's easy to see why: Dark mode offers a number of benefits, including reduced strain on the eyes, reduced blue light emissions from screens, improved accessibility for the visually impaired, better legibility in low light environments, and even longer battery life on certain devices. It's no wonder that dark mode is such a popular choice in digital visual content. And with its continued popularity, it's likely we'll see even more adoption of dark mode in data visualization in 2023.
7 Data Visualizations Conferences for 2023
Here’s a quick list of the top events you should attend in 2023 to stay sharp on the latest developments and innovations in data visualization.
When: March 20–22, 2023
Where: Orlando, FL
Price: Starting at $3,650
Gartner returns with its annual Data & Analytics Summit, attracting industry leaders worldwide with keynote speeches, networking events, and seminars. One of the biggest data visualization conferences, the event will cover the following topics:
- Leadership, skills, and culture
- Data management
- Analytics
- Strategy and value
- Data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence
- Trust, governance, and privacy
"Data has become the most important asset of any organization. Data and analytics is more critical than ever. New use cases for data to support machine learning, AI, and analytics are endless," says Donald Feinberg, Gartner's global conference chair. "As the rate of change continues, embracing flexibility, agility, and adapting to new challenges is a must. We have designed Gartner Data & Analytics Summit 2023 to address these changes, create new opportunities and prepare organizations for the future."
When: March 20–22, 2023
Where: Virtual
Price: Starting at $792
As data management technology advances and the demand for data grows within businesses, the field of modeling is constantly evolving. Despite these changes, data modeling remains a crucial practice for giving organizations a structured and clear context for their data.
During this summit, you'll explore the basics of data modeling and advanced techniques for handling complex issues such as adaptability, scalability, performance, legacy systems, and the impact of NoSQL technologies on traditional paradigms. You'll also examine how data modeling can support business intelligence, analytics, and self-service. By the end of this three-day summit, attendees will have a solid foundation for understanding and managing data within their organization.
TDWI virtual summits occur regularly across the year, and this one includes the latest trends in BI and data modeling, best practices, and strategies to provide context and structure to all the data that flows through your organization.
When: May 8–10, 2023
Where: Virtual
Price: Starting at $792
As more and more businesses seek to leverage data in order to make better decisions, many are also turning to self-service programs to broaden access to this valuable resource. However, simply having access to data is not enough to guarantee success. This comprehensive three-day program was designed to help you acquire the skills and knowledge you need to effectively extract insights from data, present your findings in a clear and visually appealing way, and communicate your discoveries in a way that maximizes their impact on your business.
"The advent of big data, with the increasing volume and velocity of data, requires visualization as a technique to compress large volumes of data into digestible presentations and to observe streaming data in motion," event organizers say.
When: July 11–13, 2023
Where: Rome, Italy
Price: Starts at €535
Data 2023 is the 12th international conference on data science, technology, and applications. The conference focuses on bringing together researchers, engineers, and practitioners interested in databases, big data, data mining, data management, data security, and other aspects of information systems and technology. While the subject matter is wide, there is good coverage on the topic of data visualization as a subcategory of the five main conference areas:
- Business analytics
- Data science
- Data management and quality
- Big data
- Databases and data security
The three-day event includes workshops, special sessions, tutorials, and panels presented and supported by data management vendors, academics, and industry leaders across the world. The event is sponsored by the Institute for Systems and Technologies of Information, Control, and Communication.
This year’s keynote speaker is Luís Paulo Reis, University of Porto, Portugal.
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When: October 22–27, 2023
Where: Melbourne, Australia
For the first time ever, the 28th annual VIS conference will be held in Australia, bringing together an international community of researchers and practitioners from universities, government, and industry to discuss the latest developments and applications of data visualization. The event will have a diverse range of symposia features the following topics:
- Visualization in practice
- Visualization in data science
- VIS Arts Program
- Data analysis challenge competitions
- Application spotlights
"VIS 2023 will be the year’s premier forum for advances in theory, methods, and applications of visualization and visual analytics. The conference will convene an international community of researchers and practitioners from universities, government, and industry to exchange recent findings on the design and use of visualization tools," according to event organizers.
When: November 23–25, 2023
Where: Denver, Colorado
Price: TBD
The goal of the Marketing Analytics and Data Science organization, or MADS, is to break down silos between the disciplines of marketing analytics and data science so organizations can deliver maximum business impact. All sessions and speakers at MADS focus on three core principles: best practices for ensuring synergy between data science and analytics, hacks to ensure a data-driven mindset is embedded into your organizational culture, and proven strategies for enhancing the value of impact in the overall organization.
This event will be live and focus on four core tracks:
- Building a data-driven and informed culture
- Future trends in marketing analytics and data science
- The customer journey
- Impact obsessed
Between collaborative workshops, case studies, and informal one-on-one sessions, this conference has plenty of content that spans both the IT and marketing sides of data management and visualization.
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When: September 13–14, 2023
Where: Hybrid event (online and in-person in Austin, TX)
Price: Starting from $2,495
The Data Strategy & Insights conference by Forrester provides attendees with the opportunity to learn how to help their businesses become insight-driven. Subject matter experts will share the latest technology, strategies, and best practices companies need to accelerate success. This event will be both live and virtual, and more information about the agenda is forthcoming.
"Data Strategy & Insights provides you with the unbiased perspective, inspiration, and real-world solutions you need to be successful," event organizers say. "You’ll enjoy new sessions, anchored by riveting content with enhanced access to analysts in addition to external luminaries at our keynotes. Join us in Austin, Texas on September 13–14, 2023 for two days of content, networking, and discovery to propel your initiatives forward."
How Integrate.io Helps You Prepare for Data Visualization Conferences
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Data visualization professionals who are looking for opportunities to improve their skills, discover new tools and technologies, and adopt best practices and visualization strategies will find a wealth of opportunities to accomplish this in 2023. With several conferences focused solely on data visualization and others with data visualizations and analytics tracks, there is plenty of content scheduled to be delivered both remotely and in person through the end of the year.
If you’re looking to make improvements to your data visualization infrastructure now, Integrate.io can help.
Our innovative cloud-based platform provides simple visualized data pipelines for automated data flows across a wide range of sources and destinations, including your existing data visualization tools like Tableau, Qlik, Looker, and more.
The conferences listed above are invaluable for establishing your organization’s data visualization strategies and techniques; Integrate.io ensures that the data flow between these technologies remains consistent and within your control. We can integrate data from more than 100 data stores and SaaS applications.
Ready to learn more? Talk to Integrate.io about your data visualization requirements and try a 14-day trial for yourself. After you sign up for your 14-day trial, schedule your ETL trial meeting. We'll go over what you can expect so you get the most out of your trial.
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