Event

Designing Data, Karen Cheng

This is the age of big data; new methods of measurement and analysis combined with an explosion of information availability have revolutionized how industries and individuals make decisions and discover new ideas. In this rapidly expanding field, the representation of both quantitative and qualitative information is increasingly important, especially in helping our society understand and address complex issues such as public health, economics, and global warming.

Effective information visualization involves both precision and clarity in selecting and interpreting data, as well as a strong sense of narrative in developing a clear communication that can be relevant on a personal level. In this lecture, Karen Cheng will present and discuss a wide range of data graphics, touching upon the nature of the design process, and the hidden poetry and beauty within these information artifacts.

Karen Cheng is the Chair of the Division of Design at the University of Washington, where she teaches information design. Karen received her Master's degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning; she also has a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University. Karen is the feature editor of the Fall 2013 issue of ARCADE: Designing Data.