iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 07/07/2025

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...

Brainstorm board of visualization research and application layout wireframes

Draft engineering diagrams of data storage and loading

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 07/07/2025

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.

Figma board of data viz and map component designs

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 07/07/2025

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...

Dashboard containing a map and visualizations on the left

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 20/11/2024

Same! The options for detail (compact, stacked, details, list) are very welcome. Plus reminders show up in the individual day too? So good!

Calendar screenshot with reminders at top

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 16/05/2024

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! www.raycast.com/benkates/datawrapper

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 04/12/2020

I am completely mesmerized by the @Apple homepage this holiday season...love the rotating tech!

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 23/09/2020

I love online music communities, especially on Twitch. New infographic on the rise of virtual music appreciation this year, built in #GoogleDataStudio! datastudio.google.com/reporting/411…

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 21/08/2020

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

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 03/08/2020

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 t.co/qsoixvJDaR

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 10/04/2020

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: t.co/C8xwNqdgMR Report: t.co/exr9cC5Y5o #infographic #selfcare @GoogleTrends

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 06/04/2020

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

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 28/02/2020

Excited about this one! A @googleanalytics click heatmap viz in #GoogleDataStudio - thanks to @PatStrickler for the original post! Medium Post: t.co/YfoTnlmrI6 DS Report: t.co/QZ3Lvaf3UV Shoutout @mourner for putting together the JavaScript library #simpleheat!

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 10/02/2020

How do @DrexelUniv, @Penn and @TempleUniv stack up against each other in #socialmedia engagement? Learn more in the new post below! Medium Post: t.co/dz6xE0m2fP #GoogleDataStudio Report: t.co/IL6z49Pagu

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 24/01/2020

Woah! "Extract theme from image" in #GoogleDataStudio! This is awesome, new? cc: @Helpfullee @wissi_analytics

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 17/01/2020

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! medium.com/compassred-data-blog/goo…

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 25/12/2019

Some very charty gifts this season!

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 23/12/2019

Played around with some data sonification this weekend using #tonejs - more so another proof of concept! #DataStudioDevs

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 13/12/2019

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 ?

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 03/12/2019

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: t.co/oGdxFTnolE Data Studio Viz: t.co/DSJvLSTAgG #DataStudioDevs

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 30/10/2019

Great #phillydataviz meetup tonight on creative coding. One highlight was @willstall showing some #GLSL examples, his work is impressive and inspiring!

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 19/10/2019

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!

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 29/07/2019

#MakeoverMonday looking at the most liked emojis used by my favorite Twitter bot @EmojiMashupBot - this is just a first pass, more to come!

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 22/07/2019

#MakeoverMonday text analysis of the #podcast titles saved in my @pocketcasts library! 32% contain the word "data", listed some of my favorites!

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Ben Kates (he/him) @benkates.com · 15/07/2019

#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!