Ben Kates (he/him)
@benkates.com
Data Product Engineering and Data Visualization - benkates.com - formerly at the Urban Institute
Leading web engineering, data viz design, and requirements gathering taught me a ton about building performant, dynamic data products. Grateful for the #svelte and #d3js communities and colleague @mitchellthorson.com.
Project: apps.urban.org/features/edu...
GitHub: github.com/UrbanInstitu...
Project: apps.urban.org/features/edu...
GitHub: github.com/UrbanInstitu...
July 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Leading web engineering, data viz design, and requirements gathering taught me a ton about building performant, dynamic data products. Grateful for the #svelte and #d3js communities and colleague @mitchellthorson.com.
Project: apps.urban.org/features/edu...
GitHub: github.com/UrbanInstitu...
Project: apps.urban.org/features/edu...
GitHub: github.com/UrbanInstitu...
This tool gives access to 60+ metrics tracking student milestones and resources as they move toward the workforce—available at state, county, and Census tract levels, with six disaggregates and trended over time.
July 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
This tool gives access to 60+ metrics tracking student milestones and resources as they move toward the workforce—available at state, county, and Census tract levels, with six disaggregates and trended over time.
Earlier this spring, my team at the Urban Institute was impacted by layoffs due to federal revenue cuts. While I’m searching for my next role, I’m excited to share my final project: the Education-to-Workforce Framework Data Tool.
apps.urban.org/features/edu...
apps.urban.org/features/edu...
July 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Earlier this spring, my team at the Urban Institute was impacted by layoffs due to federal revenue cuts. While I’m searching for my next role, I’m excited to share my final project: the Education-to-Workforce Framework Data Tool.
apps.urban.org/features/edu...
apps.urban.org/features/edu...
Same! The options for detail (compact, stacked, details, list) are very welcome. Plus reminders show up in the individual day too? So good!
November 20, 2024 at 9:45 PM
Same! The options for detail (compact, stacked, details, list) are very welcome. Plus reminders show up in the individual day too? So good!
Attention @datawrapper power users! I built a @raycastapp extension just for YOU! This extension allows you to view, search, open, and duplicate your Datawrapper #datavisualization anywhere on your Mac! Check it out and let me know what you think!
https://www.raycast.com/benkates/datawrapper
https://www.raycast.com/benkates/datawrapper
February 21, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Attention @datawrapper power users! I built a @raycastapp extension just for YOU! This extension allows you to view, search, open, and duplicate your Datawrapper #datavisualization anywhere on your Mac! Check it out and let me know what you think!
https://www.raycast.com/benkates/datawrapper
https://www.raycast.com/benkates/datawrapper
I am completely mesmerized by the @Apple homepage this holiday season...love the rotating tech!
February 21, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I am completely mesmerized by the @Apple homepage this holiday season...love the rotating tech!
I love online music communities, especially on Twitch. New infographic on the rise of virtual music appreciation this year, built in #GoogleDataStudio! https://datastudio.google.com/reporting/411867ba-a222-4074-9e55-d808d72adf9b/page/tF4fB
February 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I love online music communities, especially on Twitch. New infographic on the rise of virtual music appreciation this year, built in #GoogleDataStudio! https://datastudio.google.com/reporting/411867ba-a222-4074-9e55-d808d72adf9b/page/tF4fB
Had a #recentgrad reach out and ask how necessary certifications are for getting that first analyst job. I said understanding of the analyst role + portfolio > certifications, what do you think? #data #rstats #Tableau #GoogleAnalytics
February 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Had a #recentgrad reach out and ask how necessary certifications are for getting that first analyst job. I said understanding of the analyst role + portfolio > certifications, what do you think? #data #rstats #Tableau #GoogleAnalytics
Well I now have an excuse to share my love of mechanical keyboards, thank you @sharlagelfand for creating such a fun #rstats package! Got pretty close recreating mine in ggplot! Frame: Filco Majestouch 2 w/ Silent Red Cherry MX Switches
Keycaps: Jessica GMK Plum from Massdrop https://t.co/qsoixvJDaR
Keycaps: Jessica GMK Plum from Massdrop https://t.co/qsoixvJDaR
February 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Well I now have an excuse to share my love of mechanical keyboards, thank you @sharlagelfand for creating such a fun #rstats package! Got pretty close recreating mine in ggplot! Frame: Filco Majestouch 2 w/ Silent Red Cherry MX Switches
Keycaps: Jessica GMK Plum from Massdrop https://t.co/qsoixvJDaR
Keycaps: Jessica GMK Plum from Massdrop https://t.co/qsoixvJDaR
Excited to share a #GoogleDataStudio report focused on #selfcare during the #COVID19 pandemic. Hope everyone is doing their best to take good care of themselves and others! Medium: https://t.co/C8xwNqdgMR Report: https://t.co/exr9cC5Y5o #infographic #selfcare @GoogleTrends
February 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Excited to share a #GoogleDataStudio report focused on #selfcare during the #COVID19 pandemic. Hope everyone is doing their best to take good care of themselves and others! Medium: https://t.co/C8xwNqdgMR Report: https://t.co/exr9cC5Y5o #infographic #selfcare @GoogleTrends
I've been looking at a lot of #GoogleTrends recently and was surprised to see such a drop in interest for the "Vegetarianism" topic in the US
February 21, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I've been looking at a lot of #GoogleTrends recently and was surprised to see such a drop in interest for the "Vegetarianism" topic in the US
Excited about this one! A @googleanalytics click heatmap viz in #GoogleDataStudio - thanks to @PatStrickler for the original post! Medium Post: https://t.co/YfoTnlmrI6 DS Report: https://t.co/QZ3Lvaf3UV Shoutout @mourner for putting together the JavaScript library #simpleheat!
February 21, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Excited about this one! A @googleanalytics click heatmap viz in #GoogleDataStudio - thanks to @PatStrickler for the original post! Medium Post: https://t.co/YfoTnlmrI6 DS Report: https://t.co/QZ3Lvaf3UV Shoutout @mourner for putting together the JavaScript library #simpleheat!
How do @DrexelUniv, @Penn and @TempleUniv stack up against each other in #socialmedia engagement? Learn more in the new post below! Medium Post: https://t.co/dz6xE0m2fP #GoogleDataStudio Report: https://t.co/IL6z49Pagu
February 21, 2025 at 3:03 AM
How do @DrexelUniv, @Penn and @TempleUniv stack up against each other in #socialmedia engagement? Learn more in the new post below! Medium Post: https://t.co/dz6xE0m2fP #GoogleDataStudio Report: https://t.co/IL6z49Pagu
Woah! "Extract theme from image" in #GoogleDataStudio! This is awesome, new? cc: @Helpfullee @wissi_analytics
February 21, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Woah! "Extract theme from image" in #GoogleDataStudio! This is awesome, new? cc: @Helpfullee @wissi_analytics
New post! Learn how to create a custom Google Analytics #rshiny application using #deckgl + @Mapbox (source code + app template included) Thanks to @HoloMarkeD for all of the #rstats GA 📦 development! https://medium.com/compassred-data-blog/google-analytics-dashboards-in-r-shiny-fc8e0ebcef2c
February 21, 2025 at 3:03 AM
New post! Learn how to create a custom Google Analytics #rshiny application using #deckgl + @Mapbox (source code + app template included) Thanks to @HoloMarkeD for all of the #rstats GA 📦 development! https://medium.com/compassred-data-blog/google-analytics-dashboards-in-r-shiny-fc8e0ebcef2c
Some very charty gifts this season!
February 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Some very charty gifts this season!
Played around with some data sonification this weekend using #tonejs - more so another proof of concept! #DataStudioDevs
February 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Played around with some data sonification this weekend using #tonejs - more so another proof of concept! #DataStudioDevs
Looks like if you add "/appview" to the end of a #DataStudio report URL you get a fullscreen experience, is this new @Helpfullee @wissi_analytics ?
February 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Looks like if you add "/appview" to the end of a #DataStudio report URL you get a fullscreen experience, is this new @Helpfullee @wissi_analytics ?
I've been having a lot of fun diving into #DataStudio Community Visualizations! I shared some of my learnings so far, excited to continue on this journey! Medium Post: https://t.co/oGdxFTnolE Data Studio Viz: https://t.co/DSJvLSTAgG #DataStudioDevs
February 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
I've been having a lot of fun diving into #DataStudio Community Visualizations! I shared some of my learnings so far, excited to continue on this journey! Medium Post: https://t.co/oGdxFTnolE Data Studio Viz: https://t.co/DSJvLSTAgG #DataStudioDevs
Great #phillydataviz meetup tonight on creative coding. One highlight was @willstall showing some #GLSL examples, his work is impressive and inspiring!
February 21, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Great #phillydataviz meetup tonight on creative coding. One highlight was @willstall showing some #GLSL examples, his work is impressive and inspiring!
Having a great time at my first #bcphilly, definitely won't be my last. This talk on how people feel when consuming data and the associated variables was very very interesting, thanks @jmc_lbi!
February 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Having a great time at my first #bcphilly, definitely won't be my last. This talk on how people feel when consuming data and the associated variables was very very interesting, thanks @jmc_lbi!
I used the @EmojiMashupBot as a data source for #MakeoverMonday! Read more: https://medium.com/compassred-data-blog/makeover-monday-visualizing-the-emoji-mashup-twitter-bot-7239b3343fe3
February 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I used the @EmojiMashupBot as a data source for #MakeoverMonday! Read more: https://medium.com/compassred-data-blog/makeover-monday-visualizing-the-emoji-mashup-twitter-bot-7239b3343fe3
#MakeoverMonday looking at the most liked emojis used by my favorite Twitter bot @EmojiMashupBot - this is just a first pass, more to come!
February 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
#MakeoverMonday looking at the most liked emojis used by my favorite Twitter bot @EmojiMashupBot - this is just a first pass, more to come!
#MakeoverMonday text analysis of the #podcast titles saved in my @pocketcasts library! 32% contain the word "data", listed some of my favorites!
February 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
#MakeoverMonday text analysis of the #podcast titles saved in my @pocketcasts library! 32% contain the word "data", listed some of my favorites!
#MakeoverMonday using some #TidyTuesday UFO data from a few weeks back. I wouldn't be surprised to see this spike in 2019 given all of the #Area51 talk!
February 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
#MakeoverMonday using some #TidyTuesday UFO data from a few weeks back. I wouldn't be surprised to see this spike in 2019 given all of the #Area51 talk!