Iron Viz: Student Edition 2025 Top 3 Visualizations

Since 2019, Tableau has hosted a data visualization competition exclusively for students: Iron Viz: Student Edition. This competition allows students to practice their Tableau skills and meet members of the Tableau Community before jumping into the larger Iron Viz competition. The winners then go onto the big stage at Tableau Conference’s Iron Viz and experience an event unlike any other.

The 2025 Iron Viz: Student Edition competition results are in. This year’s theme was TV shows. In collaboration with Data + TV, students were challenged to viz their favorite TV shows and cast members, from Friends to Breaking Bad. This theme inspired show-stopping entries from 9 countries around the world.

How is Iron Viz: Student Edition judged?

The judging panel is made up of Tableau Ambassadors, Visionaries, and former Iron Viz finalists who review the submissions. They perform the difficult task of selecting the winners, using the following criteria to score all entries:

• Beauty & Design: How appropriate is the design for the story being told?
• Storytelling: Is a clear story being told or a question being explored, and is there appropriate context?
• Analytical Depth: How sophisticated and appropriate is the data that is being used for the story?
• Visualization Best Practices: Are insights being portrayed using appropriate layout, charts, and interactivity features?
   

Thank you to this year’s community judges for dedicating their time and expertise: Anya Prosvetova, Caroline Swiger, Deborah Simmonds, Diego Parker, Eman Alvani, Eric Balash, James Emery, Jessica Moon, Jim Dehner, Kayla Swain, Ojoswi Basu, Priya Padham, Roshni Gohil, Sarah Pallett, Scott Eaton, Tore Levinsen, and Vinodh Kumar.

2025 Iron Viz: Student Edition Winners

Congratulations to the top three visualizations of the 2025 Iron Viz: Student Edition competition! They used unique chart types to get their point across in fun and creative ways while also making insightful comparisons in the process. Dive into the worlds of Miraculous, Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, and Brooklyn 99 with the following visualizations.

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir

Fortune Uwha, Master of Science Statistics at University of Wyoming

"When I first looked at the data, I wanted to showcase both the statistical insights and emotional connections I have with Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. As I worked, I kept returning to the idea of balance: blending analytical depth with visuals that reflect the emotional pull of the series. 

The most rewarding part was creating a visualization that not only answered my questions but also celebrated the series —combining insightful statistics with the nostalgia I felt while making it, inspiring those who have seen it to revisit it, while also sparking interest in those who haven’t seen it yet.”

Breaking Expectations

Benjamin Pierce, Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics & Data Science at Northeastern University

“The most challenging aspect of the contest was diving into my first real Tableau project without any formal training. While I am familiar with using Power BI from past experiences, learning to navigate Tableau while still striving to create a polished, memorable visualization was a challenge, but also what made the experience so rewarding. This project reinforced how much I enjoy the process of turning data into something meaningful, and it’s motivated me to keep improving my Tableau skills.”

Crime Comedy Gold: Brooklyn 99

Yi-Shan Hsieh, Master of Science in Informatics at Indiana University Bloomington

“I focused on one of my favorite TV series - Brooklyn 99. The most challenging part was designing…the whole storytelling structure in a way that lets readers who haven’t even watched Nine-Nine feel interested, easily understand the content, and truly gain insights from it. This is not just a few days’ effort—it’s a process of hundreds of iterations and challenging myself to think outside the box. 

The most rewarding part is leveling up my data storytelling skills. While working on this project, I reviewed a bunch of great works on Tableau Public, analyzing their story structures, charts, and visual cue designs, and learning how they made it. These great works are like role models that expand my imagination of what a data story can look like.”

What are the benefits of participating in Iron Viz: Student Edition?

We asked previous winners of Iron Viz: Student Edition why they would recommend the contest to other students and how it has impacted their careers. They detail the skills that they’ve acquired and opportunities they’ve had since.

Michael Dunphy, 2022 Iron Viz: Student Edition winner 

“I'm a true believer in ‘learn by doing.’ Iron Viz: Student Edition is ideal to gain practical skills in Tableau working on data you find interesting and want to explore. The competition format pushes your creativity and problem-solving in ways classroom assignments simply can't match. I have certainly learned a lot from the Tableau community (go DataFam!) and participating in events like this is a great way to get connected with the community and learn from others. Winning Iron Viz: Student Edition has opened several doors for me in my career including having the opportunity to attend my first Tableau Conference in person, where I built connections that helped me navigate the field early on in my data analytics career. These connections provided valuable mentorship and technical advice when I needed it most. In Tableau-related job interviews, I have been able to talk about this achievement along with other projects I have worked on, demonstrating my data skills to potential employers. Beyond the tangible benefits, winning gave me the confidence to pursue more challenging projects and continually develop my skills in all aspects of data analytics.”

Karolina Grodzinska, 2023 Iron Viz: Student Edition winner 

“Participating in Iron Viz: Student Editions is a valuable learning experience even if you don't win. I got a lot of great feedback and judges put a lot of thought into suggesting how I could improve my dashboard further. It's also a great project to put on your resume, especially for any students without a ton of data-related work experience. Winning Iron Viz: Student Edition, as well as having an established Tableau Public portfolio, helped me position myself as a ‘viz specialist’ on my team at work, giving me great opportunities to work on design standards, focus on dashboard development, and improve user experience. I'm always happy when a teammate asks for Tableau help because that means they trust my expertise. I also believe that being on stage in front of thousands of people during the Tableau Conference helped me with public speaking. I have to conduct trainings and present my findings from time to time, and I always think that nothing can beat standing in the spotlight during the Iron Viz finals.”

Countdown to the 2025 Iron Viz Championship at Tableau Conference 

Inspired by the incredible data visualization skills showcased by our Iron Viz Student Edition 2025 winners? The excitement is building! You can't miss the 2025 Iron Viz championship at Tableau Conference, happening April 15–17, 2025.

Congratulations to all of the show-stopping winners and thank you to everyone who participated. Want to see more Iron Viz: Student Edition? Check out the Iron Viz: Student Edition Winner’s Gallery with vizzes from over the years.

Continue leveling up your skills through our Tableau for Students program.

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