Featuring: Brian Moore, Varun Jain, Kinsey Miller & Louis Yu In Part 2 of our Iron Viz deep-dive, we unpack how top Tableau creators bring data to life through storytelling, colour theory, design aesthetics, and cultural connections.
This episode is best viewed on YouTube or Spotify Video.

This episode explores the creative and technical decisions behind some of the most memorable Iron Viz feeder entries - where food, gaming, and visual storytelling collide. We sit down with four standout data viz designers from the Tableau community: Brian Moore, Varun Jain, Kinsey Miller and Louis Yu.

Together, we explore how they use AI tools for data collection, build custom colour palettes, apply thoughtful typography, and craft narratives that turn raw data into immersive visual experiences. If you’re passionate about data visualization, designing in Tableau, or understanding what it really takes to compete on the Iron Viz stage, this episode is packed with insights you can immediately apply to your next dashboard.

⭐ What You’ll Learn

1. Iron Viz as a Creative Playground

• How Iron Viz pushes creators to blend creativity, analytics, and storytelling.

• The emotional highs and lows of designing under pressure - iteration, doubt, breakthroughs.

2. Storytelling That Connects

• Techniques for transforming complex datasets into clear, cohesive narratives.

• Why personal and cultural connections make data more meaningful and memorable.

3. Design Aesthetics That Matter

• How to use colour theory to guide attention and highlight insights.

• Choosing an accessible, intentional colour palette (including colour-blind friendly options).

• Typography tips for improving readability, hierarchy, and visual rhythm.

• The role of layout, composition, and hand-drawn elements in creating atmosphere.

4. Data Collection, AI Tools & Workflow

• How creators gathered data on food, gaming, nutrition, ingredients and cultural context.

• When AI tools streamline research and when manual curation matters.

• Practical lessons from unexpected data challenges.

5. Food, Culture & Gaming

• How food in video games has evolved across decades.

• Why cultural influences shape visualization choices and storytelling direction.

• How sensory memories - taste, smell, nostalgia - enhance narrative impact.

6. Community, Feedback & Iteration

• How peer feedback and the wider Tableau community elevate the work.

• Why iteration is the secret to polished design and stronger storytelling.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Iron Viz and Brian Moore

01:34 Building the Background in Tableau

06:06 Colour Customization Techniques

12:18 Data Collection and Storytelling in Visualization

13:44 Varun Jain’s Journey in Data Visualization

15:14 Leveraging AI Tools for Data Extraction

18:48 Design Aesthetics in Data Visualization

24:47 Typography and Hierarchy in Visualizations

28:21 Aiming for the Iron Viz Stage

29:51 Introduction to Kinsey Miller and Iron Viz

31:39 Data Engineering for Iron Viz

35:48 Visual Design Choices and Inspirations

40:53 Colour Theory and Dashboard Aesthetics

47:02 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

49:27 Introduction to Lewis Yu

50:31 Concept Behind Louis’s Iron Viz Submission

54:33 Design Choices & Storytelling

59:13 Food in Video Games: Visual Trends

01:03:21 The Evolution of Cooking in Games

01:06:54 Research Process & Data Collection

01:11:14 Future Insights

01:11:42 Celebrating Creativity & Community

01:12:25 The Long-Term Impact of Participating in Iron Viz

🎤 Featured Creators & Their Work

Brian Moore
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bm111/
Viz: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/brian.moore7221/viz/TheConfectionConnection/TheConfectionConnection

Varun Jain
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varunjain113/
Viz: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/varun.viz.vorkshop/viz/WhatsforDinnerTonightIronViz2026/viz

Kinsey Miller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinseynicolemiller/
Viz: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/kinsey.n.miller/viz/CocktailCalculator/CocktailCalculator

Louis Yu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yulouis/
Viz: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/louisyu/viz/PlayingwithFoodIronViz/Evolution

🎧 Perfect For You If…

• You love Tableau, data visualization, or dashboard design.

• You're prepping for Iron Viz or want to understand how the best designers think.

• You’re looking to level up your storytelling, colour usage, typography, or design process.

• You’re fascinated by food, gaming, culture, and creative data stories.