As data visualization becomes increasingly popular for research and business reporting, tools to create those visualizations are growing in power and complexity. Figuring out which chart would be best for your data and how to create that chart is far from a simple task.  In this workshop, we'll have a hands-on session in the morning where we walk through the creation of a series of basic charts and maps in some of my favorite free tools – especially Excel and Tableau Public.  In the afternoon, we'll have a more conversational session on what makes a good chart, how to pick the right chart for a particular dataset, and what are some easy ways to change the design of the chart to make sure it is easy to read and looks professional.