From Blank Page to Iron Viz Stage: Your Invitation to Create

Happy Iron Viz season, DataFam!

The Iron Viz 2026 Qualifiers are officially open, and this year’s theme — Food & Drink — is a feast for the imagination. From family recipes to global trade, from local markets to Michelin stars, there’s endless opportunity to tell meaningful stories through data.

And if you’re thinking, “I’d love to enter, but I don’t know where to start,” here’s your reminder: every single Iron Viz finalist began with a blank page.

Just Start — You’re Right on Time

It doesn’t matter if you’re still sketching ideas, playing with Superstore, or staring at an empty workbook — you’re not behind. You’re exactly where creativity begins.

Every great viz starts with curiosity, not perfection. That blank canvas is the birthplace of your best ideas.

So, take a breath. Open Tableau. Find a dataset that makes you curious about food, drink, or connection — and start exploring.

What to Focus On

While there’s no formula for the perfect Iron Viz, these areas guide both creativity and judging:

Design

Your visuals should enhance understanding — not distract from it.

• Keep your layout clean and purposeful.

• Title and caption your charts so viewers always know what they’re seeing.

• Make it accessible — clear fonts, readable contrast, and colorblind-friendly palettes.

Analysis

Your data should be accurate, clean, and insightful.

• Choose a dataset that truly connects to the theme.

• Ask interesting questions, and answer them through your visuals.

• Use Tableau’s full range of features — it’s your creative toolbox.

  
  

Storytelling

This is where good turns to great — make viewers feel something.

• Guide them from question to insight with flow and clarity.

• Offer a unique perspective or angle on the theme.

• Add nuance and heart — the stories that stay with people often surprise us most.

  
  

What You’ll Gain (Beyond Prizes)

Yes, the prizes are incredible — cash awards, nonprofit donations, Tableau swag, and of course, the chance to compete on the global Iron Viz stage.

But even more valuable is what you’ll learn along the way:

• How to push your creative limits.

• How to tell richer, more human stories with data.

• How to collaborate, share, and grow through feedback.

  
  

Every entry — win or not — is a milestone. Each attempt builds skill, confidence, and community.

How to Enter

• Download Tableau Desktop Public Edition (it’s free!).

• Create a Tableau Public profile if you don’t already have one.

• Find your dataset related to Food & Drink.

• Submit your viz by November 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Final Reminder

Don’t let self-doubt stop you from starting. This is meant to be fun — a celebration of creativity, learning, and connection.

Win or lose, you’ll walk away with something even better than a prize: the pride of creating something uniquely yours.

So, open Tableau, grab a dataset, and take the first step. Because every champion — and every storyteller — starts with a blank page.