In a world overflowing with data, making sense of it all can be a daunting task. Enter “Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI: How to Design Savvy Dashboards” by Alex Kolokolov and Maxim Zelensky—a book that promises to transform how you interact with data, turning complex numbers into insightful visuals that tell a story.
A Treasure Trove for Data Enthusiasts and Newcomers Alike
This book is more than just a manual; it’s a comprehensive guide crafted for both seasoned data analysts and professionals who might not have a technical background but are eager to harness the power of data visualization. Whether you’re in finance, sales, marketing, or just someone keen on data storytelling, this book has got you covered.
What sets this guide apart is its practical approach. Spanning over 400 colorful pages, it doesn’t just talk about concepts—it shows you how to apply them. With 25 chapters dedicated to different chart types and 40 visuals from the AppSource gallery, you’re taken on a journey from the basics to advanced techniques. Each chapter is enriched with beautiful chart examples, real-world use cases, and step-by-step instructions to set up visuals in Power BI. Plus, the quizzes at the end of sections are a fun way to test your knowledge and ensure the lessons stick.
Journey Through the World of Visuals
The book is thoughtfully divided into three parts, each focusing on different levels of data visualization complexity:
Part I: Classic Visuals
Starting with the fundamentals, this section helps you understand how to choose the right charts for basic analyses. It dives deep into familiar visuals like bar charts, line graphs, and tables—tools you might have used in Excel or PowerPoint. What’s exciting is that the entire section uses a single dataset, allowing you to build a cohesive dashboard as you progress through the chapters. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation and a practical dashboard to show for it.
Part II: Trusted Advanced Visuals
Ready to take it up a notch? This part explores advanced charts and diagrams, including waterfall charts, bullet graphs, Gantt charts, tornado diagrams, funnels, and Sankey diagrams. Not only do you learn how to create these visuals, but you also get insights into the data preparation required for each. The authors compare different options, discuss the pros and cons, and highlight potential pitfalls—all to help you make informed decisions in your data visualization journey.
Part III: Risky Advanced Visuals
This is where things get interesting. The authors delve into eye-catching charts that, while impressive, can sometimes confuse the average user. They provide guidance on when and how to use these visuals effectively, or when it might be better to opt for a simpler alternative. It’s an honest look at the balance between innovation and clarity, ensuring your data tells the story you intend.
Why This Book Stands Out
One of the unique aspects of this book is its exclusive focus on Microsoft Power BI. While there are numerous resources on data visualization and data analysis separately, finding a guide that marries the two within the Power BI platform is rare. The authors bring over 15 years of business intelligence experience, sharing best practices and technical expertise from developing more than 300 dashboards. This isn’t just theory—it’s practical knowledge from experts who’ve been in the trenches.
The book also covers 40 visuals from the AppSource gallery, expanding your toolkit beyond the default options. This breadth ensures you’re equipped to create visuals that are not only effective but also engaging.
Meet the Minds Behind the Book
Alex Kolokolov is a veteran in the business intelligence arena. As the founder of Data2Speak Inc., he’s passionate about dashboard design and helping others unlock the potential of their data. Alex has authored two other books, “Dashboards for Executives” and “Make Your Data Speak,” and is known for organizing international DataViz conferences. He’s also the creator of the “Make Your Data Speak” award, recognizing excellence in data storytelling.
His co-author, Maxim Zelensky, brings his own wealth of knowledge to the table, complementing Alex’s expertise. Together, they’ve created a resource that’s both informative and inspiring.
Who Will Benefit from This Book?
Managers and Non-Technical Professionals
If you’re new to Power BI or data visualization, this book is an excellent starting point. The authors break down complex concepts into understandable lessons, making it accessible even if you don’t have a technical background. Familiarity with tools like Excel or PowerPoint will make the transition even smoother.
Data Professionals
For analysts and data engineers, this book offers insights that go beyond numbers. It tackles the often-overlooked design aspects of data visualization, helping you anticipate client needs and present data in a way that’s both accurate and compelling. The practical examples and checklists make it a handy reference you’ll return to time and again.
A Personal Touch
What makes this book even more special is the authors’ genuine passion for data storytelling. Alex Kolokolov dreams of inspiring people worldwide to use Power BI not just for reporting but for creating insightful data stories. This book is a manifestation of that dream—a personal impact he’s eager to share with the world.
Ready to Transform Your Data Visualization Skills?
“Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI: How to Design Savvy Dashboards” is more than just a book; it’s a gateway to transforming how you interact with data. With its practical approach, expert insights, and engaging content, it’s a must-have for anyone looking to elevate their data visualization game.
Whether you’re aiming to enhance your career, improve your team’s data literacy, or simply explore a new skill, this book is the perfect companion on your data journey.
So, why wait? Dive in and start turning your data into powerful stories today. Your path to becoming a data visualization pro begins here!
We had the privilege of interviewing Alex Kolokolov. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi Alex, It’s great to have you with us today! Please share about yourself with our readers.
Hi, I’ve been creating dashboards for over 15 years, and it’s still a passion of mine. After all these years, I still haven’t tired of it because, with each project, I find a new angle to explore professionally.
I’ve established myself as a significant figure in the business intelligence industry, specializing in transforming complex data into intuitive dashboards. My passion for dashboard design and development has helped organizations make sense of vast information, turning data into actionable insights.
As the founder of Data2Speak Inc., I lead an agency dedicated to providing top-tier BI services and training. My expertise is also shared through the authorship of influential books: Dashboards for Executives (2019) and Make Your Data Speak (2023), both of which have been well-received for their practical guidance and clarity. My latest book, Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI (2024), is already highly reviewed by professionals looking to enhance their skills with this powerful tool.
Beyond my written work, I’ve made substantial contributions to the data visualization community. I organized the international DataViz conference, a gathering that fosters innovation and collaboration among industry leaders. Additionally, I established the “Make Your Data Speak” award, recognizing excellence in the field and inspiring others to push the boundaries of what’s possible in data storytelling.
Please tell us about what you do.
When my daughter was 8 years old, she asked me about it. And I said that I draw pictures. But pictures with numbers. And she was surprised.
‘Do they pay you so much for it?’
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘because adults can’t do it.’
But seriously, I have been designing and developing dashboards for 15 years, I visualize data and turn it into charts. But my ultimate goal is to make them understandable for business. My clients come to me with a request that they have too much data. I call myself an interpreter between business and IT. And I use it as a universal language of visual communication.
Please share your journey with our readers.
My journey began 15 years ago with a startup focused on data processing—specifically big data. Back then, it wasn’t a mainstream topic, but it held a lot of potential. I started looking for clients, I realized they had difficulty understanding what the final product would be. They couldn’t quite grasp the concept of a data engine that could produce reports. That’s when it struck me: the product needed a face—something memorable and visually engaging. That’s how I discovered dashboards and created my first infographic. When clients saw it, they were hooked, and that led to them buying our product.
Through trial and error, I developed my own intuitive rules and methods for data visualization, aiming for clarity and aesthetic appeal. It was only later that I read renowned books like ‘Say It with Charts’ by Gene Zelazny, and that’s when everything clicked—I built a framework in my mind.
Eventually, we had an honest moment of self-reflection and acknowledged that companies like Microsoft and other major vendors had advanced far beyond our startup’s capabilities.
Please tell us about your book about data visualization.
The book is the first on the market that delivers dataviz best practices precisely for Power BI. It has 25 chapters about different chart types; 40 visuals: from default to advanced from the AppSource gallery; 400 color pages of an exceptional quality. As I mentioned, the book is suitable for non-technical professionals as well as for experienced data analysts.
It consists of 3 parts:
1. Classic Visuals: Authors explain how to choose charts for basic types of analysis and avoid common mistakes. How to set up interactions and put visuals together on a dashboard.
2. Trusted Advanced Visuals: Different options and data requirements for waterfall and bullet charts, Gantt, tornado, funnel, Sankey, and others.
3. Risky Advanced Visuals: ‘Eye-catchy’ charts that may confuse the average user. We explain use cases and offer simpler alternatives.
Its key features:
– Beautiful examples, specific use cases for charts;
– Step-by-step guides on how to set it up in the app;
– Data preparation tips and tricks;
– Quizzes to consolidate the learning material.
What problem does your book solve?
The problem I aim to address, especially for Microsoft’s vast user community, is that Microsoft Power BI is still underrated. If you ask most business users which tool comes to mind for data visualization, they’ll say Tableau, which was founded by a team with design expertise, including former Pixar staff, so design excellence is embedded in its DNA. Power BI, on the other hand, has a different background, one focused more on data and tables. I want to show the world that it’s now an incredible tool—widely accessible, available in nearly every company, and even free for personal use.
Another issue I want to tackle is that even experienced professionals often produce poor reports and visualizations. They tend to deliver exactly what the client requests without challenging it. The problem is that many clients, often with a traditional Microsoft Excel background, envision tables or slides as they did 10 or 20 years ago. They want reports displayed in ways they’re familiar with—like requesting dashboards with ten dropdown filters that take up half the screen. But today, instead of ten slides, we can create one interactive dashboard—if we teach users to utilize filters, showing them that each column can act as a filter without cluttering the screen with dropdown lists.
This book provides clear explanations and methods so that specialists can engage in a constructive dialogue with their managers or clients, guiding them towards best practices and supporting their case with my insights.
This knowledge is what I hope to share with the masses.
Is your book suitable for ‘everyday users’ like managers and non-technical professionals?
I had to train business users who expected a self-service tool, almost like a simple builder. Even back then, around ten years ago, I realized that vendor instructions were written for technical specialists, not for finance or marketing professionals. With Microsoft’s vast ecosystem, the resources they provide are typically for tech specialists. Business users, however, often find this intimidating and confusing, especially without a Microsoft tech background. They make a few unsuccessful attempts, get frustrated, and then give up on using the tool altogether. So, I essentially had to reinvent the training approach to make it accessible to everyday users—not just advanced or tech-savvy users.
It was for these “everyday” users that I developed step-by-step guides, which became the foundation of my book. That’s its unique value—there are plenty of books about visualization, and even more about data in Power BI. But none of them address how to effectively visualize data specifically in Power BI, with clear instructions tailored for non-technical users, and featuring only the best practices.
So, does it implicate a Power BI for dummies manual?
Not quite. It’s for professionals—managers and specialists whose daily responsibilities are decision-making, not memorizing the intricacies of Power BI. I created clear, step-by-step guides with best practices so users can easily navigate to the relevant section for any chart and see which data is needed.
Additionally, my book is aimed at professional analysts who, while capable with Power BI, don’t focus primarily on visualization. This is just a small part of their work.
For more information, readers can check out the book on Goodreads or Amazon.
Thank you so much, Alex, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
