The 2025 contest is closed.

Iron Viz: Student Edition is a data visualization contest just for students where they can develop their visualization skills while being introduced to the world of visualization competitions. We partnered with IMDb for our theme with a Data+TV data set. The 3 winners will be invited to attend a compensated trip Tableau Conference 2025, a $250 Tableau Store gift card, and Tableau Certification voucher.

How It Works

1. Get Access to Tableau

You will need Tableau to complete your visualization. Don't worry—with Tableau Desktop Public Edition, you receive free access to our software via Tableau Public. 

Get a software license

2. Create a Tableau Public Profile

Only visualizations published on Tableau Public and submitted to our form will be considered valid entries for the contest. If you don't already have one, create a profile on Tableau Public.

create a profile

3. Get the Data

The 2025 competition’s dataset featured IMDb TV data in partnership with Data + TV! Even though the submission window has closed, you can still access the data with instructions on the Data + TV homepage.

4. Submit your Viz

Although the competition is closed, you can publish your visualization to your Tableau Public profile (learn how) and participate in the Data + TV challenge

Create a winning viz

Check out this best practices blog to gain some tips on how to get started on your analysis to create your winning viz.

Read More

Iron Viz: Student Edition 2024 winners

Jane Kamata first heard about Tableau from her high school robotics club. After winning the competition, Jane became an active member of our Community and she is now a Tableau Academic Ambassador.

Nkosi Mngomezulu had been learning from the Tableau #DataFam community for 3 years when he wanted to challenge himself by entering, and winning, Iron Viz: Student Edition 2024.

Xinran Peng had only been using Tableau for a few months when she entered and won Iron Viz: Student Edition 2024 at the recommendation of her Data Visualization professor.

In image from left to right: Jane Kamata, Nkosi Mngomezulu, and Xinran Peng

 

Hear from the 2023 Iron Viz: Student Edition competition winners, explore their vizzes, and get their advice to students entering the competition at the link below.

Watch Now

Iron Viz: Student Edition FAQ

Iron Viz: Student Edition is a competition open exclusively to students, though we encourage you to participate in both! Iron Viz: Student Edition is for students looking to develop their visualization skills, but feel hesitant about competing at the Iron Viz level. This competition is a great introduction into the world of visualization competitions. Iron Viz: Student Edition winners will also have the opportunity to connect with other members of the Tableau Community at Tableau Conference.

A panel of judges comprising of data viz experts, previous Iron Viz finalists, and skilled community members will evaluate the submissions based on the following judging criteria for a total of 100 points:

  • Analytical Depth (25 points) - Was the data used in a way to explore?
  • Beauty and Design (25 points) - Is the visualization beautiful, relevant, and effective?
  • Storytelling (25 points) - Does the viz present insights in an interesting way? 
  • Visualization Best Practices (25 points) - Rate the visualization in overall best practices

In the event of a tie, the submission that received the higher score in the category of Analytical Depth will be selected as a winner. 

 

2025's theme was Data + TV in collaboration with IMDb. The submission window is currently closed.

You may submit multiple entries to the form but only the most recent entry will be considered. Only one entry per person will be judged. Edits to any entries are allowed up until the deadline.

  • Compensated trip and ticket to Tableau Conference 2025 for the winner
  • $250 gift card to the Tableau Store
  • 1 Tableau Certification Voucher

Tableau Academic Programs provides free software, learning and teaching resources to students and educators to empower everyone with data skills.

 

Learn More