In an era where data reigns supreme, turning numbers into narratives is a skill that sets professionals apart. “Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI: How to Design Savvy Dashboards” by Alex Kolokolov and Maxim Zelensky is a beacon for anyone looking to master this art. This book isn’t just another technical manual; it’s a vibrant journey through the world of data visualization, tailored specifically for Power BI enthusiasts.
A Comprehensive Guide for Everyone
Whether you’re diving into data for the first time or you’ve been swimming in spreadsheets for years, this book has something for you. It’s designed to bridge the gap between complex data analysis and accessible visual storytelling. The authors have packed over 400 pages with colorful illustrations, practical examples, and hands-on tutorials that make learning both effective and enjoyable.
One of the standout features is the inclusion of beautiful chart examples paired with real-world use cases. You’ll find step-by-step instructions on setting up visuals within Power BI, along with handy tips and tricks for data preparation. To help cement your newfound knowledge, quizzes are sprinkled throughout the chapters, offering a fun way to test your understanding.
Delving into Classic and Advanced Visuals
The book is thoughtfully divided into three parts, each focusing on different aspects of data visualization:
Part I: Classic Visuals
This section is all about the basics. You’ll explore how to select the right charts for various types of analysis and learn to sidestep common mistakes. Familiar visuals like bar charts, line graphs, and tables are examined in depth. Using a consistent dataset across chapters, you’re guided in building a cohesive dashboard, reinforcing concepts through practical application. A quiz at the end helps you gauge your grasp of the material before moving on.
Part II: Trusted Advanced Visuals
Here, the authors take you beyond the basics. You’ll delve into advanced charts and diagrams such as waterfall charts, bullet graphs, Gantt charts, tornado diagrams, funnels, and Sankey diagrams. Each chapter not only teaches you how to create these visuals but also discusses the specific data transformations required. By comparing different visualization options and highlighting their pros and cons, the book helps you make informed decisions about which charts best suit your data and objectives.
Part III: Risky Advanced Visuals
In the final section, the focus shifts to eye-catching but potentially confusing visuals. The authors candidly discuss the pitfalls of using unconventional charts that might baffle your audience. They provide guidance on when these visuals can be effective and offer simpler alternatives when appropriate. This part is all about understanding the balance between innovation and clarity in data presentation.
Why This Book is a Must-Have
What sets this book apart is its exclusive focus on Microsoft Power BI. While there are plenty of resources on data visualization and even more on data analysis, 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 gleaned from developing more than 300 dashboards.
You’ll also explore 40 visuals from the AppSource gallery, ranging from default options to advanced custom visuals. This extensive coverage ensures you’re well-equipped to choose the best tools for your data storytelling needs.
About the Authors
Alex Kolokolov is a seasoned professional in the business intelligence field. As the founder of Data2Speak Inc., he has dedicated his career to helping others unlock the power of data visualization. Alex is also the author of “Dashboards for Executives” and “Make Your Data Speak,” and he’s known for organizing international DataViz conferences and establishing the “Make Your Data Speak” award to honor excellence in the field.
His co-author, Maxim Zelensky, complements Alex’s expertise, bringing additional depth to the book’s content. Together, they’ve crafted a resource that’s both informative and inspiring, aiming to elevate how professionals interact with data.
Who Will Benefit from This Book
Managers and Non-Technical Users
If you’re new to Power BI or data visualization in general, this book serves as a friendly introduction. The concepts are presented in an accessible way, making it easy for those familiar with tools like Excel or PowerPoint to transition into more advanced data visualization techniques.
Data Professionals
For analysts and data engineers, the book offers valuable insights into the design aspects of dashboards—a skill set that’s often overlooked but critically important. The practical examples and explanations help you anticipate client needs and communicate data effectively.
The book is designed to be a reference you can return to. You don’t need to memorize every detail; instead, you can revisit chapters as needed and use the provided checklists to ensure your visuals are on point.
Join the Data Visualization Revolution
Alex Kolokolov dreams of a world where data is more than just numbers on a page. He envisions professionals using Power BI to craft insightful data stories that drive action and change. This book is his invitation for you to join that movement.
“Data Visualization with Microsoft Power BI” is more than just a guide—it’s a catalyst for transforming how you see and share data. 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 starting point.
So why wait? Dive into the world of Power BI and start turning your data into compelling stories today. Your journey to becoming a data visualization maestro 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!
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