Tableau’s Sweet Spot: Mastering Hex (Honeycomb) Maps for Impactful Insights
The ever-dynamic realm of data is the only place where creativity meets the science of analytics. From all the familiar traditional maps which are a valuable way to represent geographic data to hex maps which offer a fresh perspective by replacing conventional shapes with hexagons, Tableau has never failed to impress us when it comes to innovation.
As the world of data continues to expand, so must our visualization techniques. In a previous article, I talked about how Figma can have a huge impact on our dashboards. This time, we will use Tableau to create a captivating map that combines the elegance of a honeycomb with the accuracy of point maps (check this article on Figma and Tableau for more information).
So, without further ado, let’s embark on an exciting journey together and delve into the art of creating maps with Tableau🧑🎨
Why hex maps and not traditional maps?
We all know that the demand for new ways of displaying data has grown over the years, so traditional maps have become less effective when you want to catch your customer's attention.
You might say
Okay, Luchiana, but insights often matter more than design, and the impact of a hex map versus a traditional map may not be significantly different
I'm sorry, but there seems to be a misunderstanding. What I wanted to say is that when presenting insights to the client, it's crucial to ensure that they meet their requirements and are accurate. However, a great design can make a significant impact.
Traditional maps may be familiar to many of us, but there are times when they limit our ability to show great insight in a visually appealing way. When we strive to showcase our work in a GREAT or even STUNNING way is better to use a hex map. This is a unique solution that provides a fresh grid-like canvas that combines perfectly the efficiency of data analysis with the aesthetic allure of honeycomb structures.
Some of the advantages a hex map brings to the table are:
- Equal area representation: when mapping, using hexagons ensures consistent space usage, unlike traditional maps with varying region sizes and shapes.
- Efficiently use of space: hexagons helps hex map to be more space-efficient than traditional maps
- Visual aesthetics: in order to make the user more engaged in discovering insights, a honeycomb-like arrangement can be used, which is both interesting and easier to interpret.
- Reduce overplotting: when you’re dealing with dense data points, hexagons might be a hero in reducing overplotting in your visualization
- Customization: you have the flexibility to customize various elements, including colors, labels, tooltips, and much more, allowing you to create a personalized and engaging visualization.
Getting started
The prerequisites for creating a hex map in Tableau are almost non-existent (I said almost 😁); So all you need is:
- A file with all states, abbreviations, and coordinates.
2. Your data in Tableau
3. Your creativity
Let’s get our hands dirty
After meticulously cleaning your data, it’s finally time to unleash your creativity and craft your visualization.
- Import your hex map plot file into Tableau by selecting the option “New data source” of the Data menu tab dropdown; after that go and select the “Edit Blend Relationships” option and define the “common column” for the relationship between the 2 data sources.
2. Go to an empty sheet, then drag the “Column” field into the Columns shelve, and “Row” field into the Rows shelve (both from the Hexmap-plot data source), and the “States” field (from the main data source) into Marks card under “Details’
3. Click on the Shape card from the Marks card and replace the shape with the hexagon
!! Please note that in order to use this shape, you’ll need to import it into the ‘Shapes’ folder located in ‘My Tableau Repository’!!
4. Now it’s time to set free our creativity and play with sizes and colors
- To adjust the hexagon sizes, click on ‘Size’ in the Marks card and use the slider to select the right size.
- To apply your favorite color, click on ‘Color’ and let your inner artist shine.
- Also, you can add labels by dragging the ‘Abbreviation’ on the ‘Label’ into the Marks card and add ‘Tooltips’ that provide additional details, such as State, Number of Calls, and so on.
Create a more special honeycomb
I wanted to create something eye-catching, so I made a purple honeycomb that shows the number of calls per state (you can find it here)
To create it, there are a few more steps that need to be followed.
- Duplicate the 'Column' field into the Columns Shelf (hold CTRL + click and drop).
You’ll end with something like this, but don’t worry, we will solve this in no time
2. Drag and drop the desired measure onto the Size field in the Marks card for the first map. For the second map, scale the hexagons according to the chosen measure.
3. Right-click on one of the measures and choose ‘Dual Axis’ from the context menu
4. Remember to click ‘Synchronize Axis’ to create a stunning honeycomb map
👉😎👉 The result is this:
Conclusion
I’m sure there are more ways to create amazing hex maps, but here I’ve shared my humble method of creating one. I encourage you to leverage your skills using these types of maps and wow your customers.
So, let’s dive in and discover the beauty and insights of hexagonal geospatial visualization and share our amazing visualizations with the world.
P.S: Don’t be shy! Share your hex maps, and let’s celebrate your creative talents together 🤗
P.S.S: All the resources used for creating the purple honeycomb map can be found here
