IxD Ep. 27 (Yan Holtz - Data Viz Engineer)
Introducing Yan Holtz and His Background
-
Yan Holtz
is a data visualization engineer who previously worked at Datadog, specializing in software development related to data visualization. He recently founded his own consulting company called Data Vis Universe.
- Yan is dedicated to education, as evidenced by his creation of six free, award-winning websites that collectively attract over a million monthly views.
- His transition from a full-time role to entrepreneurship showcases his passion for data visualizations and helping others understand data better.
"I was writing code... focusing on the data part of the application."
The Role of a Data Visualization Engineer
- In his role at Datadog, Yan was part of a team that developed graph components utilized throughout a large-scale application. This application offered thousands of graphs to its users, primarily using React for visualization.
- His responsibilities included coding from start to finish, addressing the various data representation needs of different teams within the organization, and ensuring the reliability and maintenance of the visualizations over time.
"We were building the React graph components that were used by all the other teams."
Different Groups Working with Data Visualization
- Yan identifies three primary groups utilizing data visualization: journalists who often rely on no-code tools like Datawrapper or Tableau, data analysts primarily using R or Python for academic purposes, and web developers relying on JavaScript to create interactive graphics.
- He highlights a distinction in how interactivity is handled across these groups, noting that many analysts and academics might create static visualizations. At the same time, developers focus on creating more dynamic and engaging experiences.
"You can build whatever you want... when it comes to interactivity, you have to go to JavaScript."
Interactivity in Data Visualization
- A fundamental idea that Yan emphasizes is that many interactive charts should still convey their main message without requiring user interaction. He points out a study showing that only some engage with interactive elements, highlighting the importance of creating understandable static visuals as a foundation.
- When designing interactive charts, he indicates that it's crucial to ensure that users can gain insights without relying on interaction rather than assuming interactivity will always be utilized.
"Make sure that everything you want to say can still be seen on the charts even with no interaction."
Designing for Mobile Screens
- Yan discusses the considerations necessary for creating compelling data visualizations on mobile devices, recognizing that smaller screens pose challenges for interactivity compared to desktop environments.
- He highlights the need to adapt data visualizations for different screen types, which may require rethinking the visualization used to ensure clarity and usability on mobile devices.
"Sometimes you will just have to think about another chart type for the same dataset."
Importance of Communication in Product Management
- In his new role as a founder and consultant, Yan emphasizes that effective product management hinges on continuous communication with stakeholders, a process that helps assess needs and refine products over time.
- He advises against diving into development without regular client updates, advocating for brief check-ins or updates to ensure that the consulting team and stakeholders remain aligned throughout the project.
"Don't start coding... without talking with your client at all."
Project Management and Client Relations
- Yan Holtz emphasizes the importance of proactive project management by creating to-do lists and presenting proposals for future work after completing a project. This approach ensures that clients remain engaged and informed about the next steps without initiating talks about their needs.
- He also aims to exceed client expectations by preparing surprises that add extra value, contributing positively to client satisfaction.
“At the end of one chunk of work, come with some proposals for what we should do next.”
Background in Bioinformatics and Its Influence on Data Visualization
- Yan's journey into data visualization began with his work in bioinformatics, focusing on the genetic analysis of wheat. master's degree in Agricultural Science and Statistics, which led him to understand how to handle large datasets using programming languages like Python to visualize complex genetic data.
- He quickly became interested in data visualization, realizing its importance in effectively communicating research findings. This passion propelled him to create web platforms where he could build visualization tools.
“That’s how everything started for me; I started to build some websites beside my job.”
Cultural Perceptions of Data Visualization
- Yan has worked in academia and industry across different countries—France, Australia, and the United States—and notes that while organizational cultures vary significantly, the fundamental principles of data visualization remain unified mainly globally.
- Differences in work efficiency and approaches to data may exist, but there are no substantial disparities in how data visualizations are interpreted.
“The rules are pretty much the same everywhere; it's kind of a unified language.”
Educational Contributions and Online Resources
- Yan is passionate about education and has developed several online resources, including Data to Viz and various graph galleries that cater to different programming languages. His goal is to help individuals overcome challenges in creating compelling data visualizations.
- His inspiration stems from his academic experiences, where he noticed frequent struggles among colleagues making charts with R, leading him to compile a guide to assist others.
“I was surrounded by people struggling to make their charts with R, and that’s how I started doing the R graph Gallery.”
Motivation for Data Visualization and Newsletters
- Yan Holtz prefers newsletters over social media, believing that newsletters provide educational value without the distractions of endless scrolling. He envisions his newsletter as a brief read that fits into a morning coffee routine, allowing someone to learn about data visualization in just three minutes. This approach underlines his commitment to sharing knowledge concisely and effectively, aiming to keep his audience informed about new tools and projects he is working on.
"When I receive a newsletter and I read it, I feel like I learn so many more things."
Consulting and Educational Offerings
- As an independent consultant, Yan offers three primary services. The first is consulting, in which he helps businesses with data visualization projects, such as building dashboards using tools like React and D3. Second, he provides training to teams, sharing his passion for data visualization, which includes teaching the fundamentals. Third, he is developing online courses focused on programming related to data visualization, emphasizing interactive learning.
"For instance, I'm currently working for an American startup that needs to build a dashboard in their application."
Learning Philosophy and Teaching Methodology
- Yan believes that authentic learning in programming can only happen through hands-on experience. His online courses incorporate this philosophy by including interactive exercises and real-life projects to reinforce learning. He encourages students to apply what they learn directly, ensuring that by the end of the course, they have a solid project to include in their portfolios.
"My philosophy is: if you want to learn something, build something."
Audience and Student Composition
- Yan primarily sees data analysts in his courses, as their role aligns closely with the skills he teaches, such as creating clean reports and using platforms like GitHub for code management. His classes attract a mix of experience levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals, which adds a rich dynamic to the learning environment.
"It's pretty mixed; I would say it's half from academia and half from the industry."
Future Plans for Courses
- Yan plans to create new courses, including one focused on Matplotlib for Python users and another aimed at general data visualization concepts. His motivation for these courses is to fill gaps in existing educational resources and help practitioners understand dvisualization'son's impact on daily decision-making processes and the media.
"There is a big need for Python practitioners to become better at data visualization."
Favorite Programming Languages and Tools
- Yan Holtz enjoys programming and has specific tools he uses for his projects. He prefers using React with D3 for his development tasks and finds it fits his needs. He also incorporates Tailwind CSS for styling his components, which helps him build web interfaces effectively.
- He feels equipped with the right tools and skills to develop websites and data visualizations quickly compared to a decade ago.
"It’s so good to be a developer in 2020 compared to 10 years ago."
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Development Work
- Yan uses ChatGPT daily, especially as a non-native English speaker, to assist him in writing blog posts in English. Although he occasionally relies on it for fundamental coding, he recognizes its limitations in tackling niche programming tasks, particularly in databases.
- He notes a decline in traffic to his website as users increasingly turn to AI tools like ChatGPT for quick solutions. This trend mirrors a broader decline in traffic seen on platforms like Stack Overflow since the rise of AI assistants.
"The bad part... is that a lot of people go to my website... and now they tend to use ChatGPT instead."
Unique Skill Sets in Data Visualization and Software EngineeringYan's
- s diverse background effectively enables him to blend visualization, UX/UI experience, and software engineering. He can create interactive learning experiences by developing his course platform and quizzes using his programming knowledge.
- He reflects on whether more professionals should acquire a similar multidisciplinary skill set or focus on specialization in their respective fields. Although he appreciates his comprehensive skills, he advises caution on pursuing such a broad range of expertise due to the substantial effort required.
"I wouldn’t recommend people to have the same skill sets as the one I have."
Lessons Learned Throughout Career Development
- Yan shares his lessons learned through experience, emphasizing the importance of understanding high-level concepts before delving into specific details when starting a new role. He wishes he had grasped foundational React and TypeScript skills before jumping into practical coding.
- He also expresses the value of structured learning through online courses, suggesting that they would have significantly expedited his understanding of complex topics compared to self-study.
"Try to understand the big picture first before digging into very specific detailed topics."
