Open Visualization Academy by Alberto Cairo
A free repository of knowledge about information design, data visualization, and data literacy.
Courses
-
Introduction to Information Design and Data Visualization
Author:
Alberto Cairo
Duration: 5h
-
Accessibility in Data Visualization
Author:
Frank Elavsky
Duration: 3h30
-
Data Feminism for Data Visualization
Authors:
Lauren Klein
Catherine D'Ignazio
Duration: 4h30
-
The Craft of Building Stories with Data
Author:
Gurman Bhatia
Duration: 3h30
-
Learning Objectives for Communicative Visualizations
Authors:
Elsie Lee-Robbins
Eytan Adar
Duration: 4h
-
Coming Soon
Visualizing Loss and Tragedy
Author:
Alyssa Fowers
-
Cartography and Map Design with QGIS
Author:
Hannah Dormido
Duration: 3h
-
Using RAWGraphs.io to Visualize Data
Author:
Hannah Dormido
Duration: 1h30
-
Adobe Illustrator for Visualization Design
Author:
Hiram Henriquez
Duration: 17h
-
Generative AI in Data Analysis
Author:
Joy Victor
Duration: 3h
-
Storytelling with Datawrapper
Author:
Luis Melgar
Duration: 3h30
-
Figma for Data Visualization
Author:
Rodolfo Almeida
Duration: 6h
-
Visualization with R’s ggplot2 Package and AI Tools
Author:
Raymond Balise
Duration: 3h30
-
Critical Data Exploration with Spreadsheets
Author:
Kae Petrin
Duration: 6h
-
Coming Soon
Tidy Data, Tidy Infographics
Author:
Alberto Cairo
Duration: 2h30
Not sure where to start? Learn fundamentals
About
Instructors
Alberto Cairo
Journalist, Designer, Art Director, and EducatorHe’s the Knight Chair in Infographics and Data Visualization at the University of Miami, and director of the Visualization program at UM’s Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing. Cairo has been a graphics director at news publications in Spain and Brazil, and works as a visualization consultant for numerous companies and international organizations. He’s the author of four books: 'The Functional Art' (2012), The Truthful Art (2016), ‘How Charts Lie’ (2019) and ‘The Art of Insight’ (2023).
Courses
- Tidy Data, Tidy Infographics (Coming Soon)
- Introduction to Information Design and Data Visualization
Alyssa Fowers
Data & Graphics ReporterI am a data-driven graphics reporter with six years of experience at The Washington Post. My work primarily focuses on the economy and public policy, but I have long been fascinated by the challenge of conveying humanity through numbers. I am driven by curiosity and believe that absolutely everything is interesting when given enough thought.
Course
- Visualizing Loss and Tragedy (Coming Soon)
Bridget Winds Cogley
Independent ConsultantBridget Cogley is the co-author of Functional Aesthetics for Data Visualization and brings an interdisciplinary approach to her work. She trains, consults, and presents on a number of topics including data visualization, ethics, and product development.
Course
- Applied Data Ethics and Designing Dashboards (Coming soon)
Cameron Riopelle
Director of Research Data & Open Scholarship, University of MiamiCameron Riopelle is the Director of Research Data & Open Scholarship and a Librarian Associate Professor at the University of Miami Libraries. He received his PhD in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2017, his MS in Statistics (concentration: Applied Statistics) from UIUC in 2015, and Master of Arts in Sociology from UIUC in 2012. At UM, he teaches statistics courses for public health and marine science programs. His course will be titled “Fundamentals of Statistics For Data Visualization”.
Catherine D'Ignazio
Associate Professor of Urban Science & Planning, Director of the Data + Feminism LabCatherine D’Ignazio is an Associate Professor of Urban Science and Planning and Director of the Data + Feminism Lab in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. She is the co-author of Data Feminism (2020) and author of Counting Feminicide: Data Feminism in Action (2024), both award-winning books that describe more liberatory and empowering approaches to data science and visualization.
Course
Domiziana Ferrari
Data Analyst and ResearcherDomiziana Ferrari is a Data Analyst and Researcher based in Rome. Her work explores how data, analysis, and visualization can help interpret complex social dynamics and support more informed decision-making. Alongside her professional work, she conducts independent research on civic engagement with data and science, investigating how communities use data to understand and address urban and societal challenges. Her course will be titled “Visualizing Small Data”.
Elsie Lee-Robbins
Data Visualization DesignerElsie Lee-Robbins is a data visualization designer with a PhD from the University of Michigan, where she researched how designers define what they want audiences to learn, feel, or do—and how those goals shape visual design. She crafts data-driven stories, spanning digital and physical mediums, and is a data visualization specialist at the Postal Regulatory Commission.
Course
Enrico Bertini
Associate Professor at Northeastern UniversityDr. Bertini serves as an Associate Professor at Northeastern University, focusing on research and teaching in the fields of data visualization and visual analytics. His work covers a broad spectrum within data science and visualization, including both empirical studies and practical applications. Dr. Bertini also authors a newsletter titled FILWD, where he shares insights on data, AI, and visualization. Additionally, he offers public and private workshops on data thinking and visualization. His course will be titled “How to Read Charts”.
Eytan Adar
Professor, University of MichiganEytan Adar is a Professor in the School of Information and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. He works broadly in Human-Computer Interaction but has a specific interest in communicative visualization. His group works broadly at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction and Artificial Intelligence. He has published over 140 papers, founded the International Conference on the Web and Social Media (ICWSM), and is a Fellow of the ACM.
Course
Frank Elavsky
Researcher in Human-Computer InteractionFrank is a PhD candidate and researcher at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. His work explores the intersection of interactive data visualization and accessibility. Frank has collaborated with companies such as Apple's Human-Centered Machine Intelligence research group, Adobe, Microsoft, Visa, and Highcharts. Frank’s contributions focus on enabling people with and without disabilities find insights, make decisions, and live better lives using data.
Course
Gurman Bhatia
Founder at Revisual LabsGurman Bhatia is the Founder & Director of Revisual Labs, India’s foremost information design studio. An award-winning practice, Revisual Labs works at the intersection of data, design, and storytelling. A former data journalist with over a decade of experience, Gurman has trained 1,500+ professionals worldwide in data storytelling, helping organizations transform complex information into clarity, creativity, and impact.
Course
Hannah Dormido
Visual Journalist & CartographerHannah Dormido is an award-winning visual journalist and cartographer based in Washington, D.C. With more than a decade of experience at The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, and the Financial Times, she has shaped stories that turn complex data into compelling visuals. She is the past president of the North American Cartographic Information Society and creator of Dormidots, a distinctive hand-drawn mapping style.
Courses
Hiram Henriquez
Founder and Creative Director of H2H Graphics & Design Inc.Hiram Henriquez’s career spans over 30 years working at The Miami Herald (graphics editor), the South Florida Sun Sentinel (sr. graphics reporter), and National Geographic (graphics editor). Hiram runs his own design studio, H2H Graphics & Design Inc., specializing in illustration, informational graphics, and visual design. He is also a senior lecturer at UM’s School of Communication teaching Visual Design and Informational Graphics.
Course
Isabel Meirelles
Information Designer & Professor at OCAD UniversityIsabel Meirelles is an information designer and Professor in the Faculty of Design at OCAD University in Toronto. Her work sits at the intersection of data visualization, culture, and education. She is the author of “Design for Information”(2013), a foundational reference on the histories, theories, and best practices of information visualization. She is currently writing “A Data Visualization Odyssey,” a forthcoming book on the collaborative work of Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg. Her course will be titled “Design for information: Principles, Practices, and Visual Thinking”.
Joy Victor
Data Analyst & Tableau AmbassadorJoy Victor is a Data Analyst and AI Ethics Wingwoman. She leads the data analysis and visualization efforts for the AIAI Network's Public Interest AI project under DataedX. In her most recent report, she examined the intersection of Georgia’s cybercrime activity and the influence of AI. Joy is also a Tableau Ambassador, co-lead of the Tableau + AI User Group, and a contributor to the Rebel Tech Newsletter.
Course
Kae Petrin
Data & Graphics Reporter at Civic News CompanyKae Petrin is a data journalist and media educator whose work merges government accountability reporting and LGBTQ+ communities coverage. Throughout their career in local news they have collaborated with reporters in more than two dozen states to create data-driven, audience-friendly visual journalism. Kae has led reporting and data workshops for Investigative Reporters & Editors, the Global Investigative Journalism Network, the Education Writers Association, and individual newsrooms.
Course
Kenneth Field
Professional CartonerdKenneth Field makes maps, collects maps, writes about maps, and is committed to helping others make better maps. He’s worked in UK academia, and now pushes the art of the possible at Esri in California. He has received numerous awards for his maps and pedagogy, is author of two award-winning books, and developed a MOOC on cartography taken by 250,000 people globally. The Data Visualization Society honoured him as an “Impressive Individual“ for his work in cartographic education. His course will be titled “The Stories that Maps Can Tell”.
Lauren Klein
Professor at Emory University and Director of the Emory Digital Humanities LabLauren Klein is Professor of Quantitative Theory & Methods and English at Emory University, where she also directs the Emory Digital Humanities Lab and the Atlanta Interdisciplinary AI Network. Her research brings together computational and critical methods to explore questions of gender, race, and justice. Klein is author (with Catherine D’Ignazio) of the award-winning Data Feminism (MIT Press, 2020), and is currently completing Data by Design: An Interactive History of Data Visualization.
Course
Luis Melgar
Graphics Reporter at The Washington PostLuis Melgar is a graphics reporter with more than a decade of experience making data visualizations, both static and interactive. Since 2022, he has worked for the graphics team at The Washington Post, where he mostly covers economic issues. Before joining the Post, he worked for Univision, The Wall Street Journal and Guns & America, a public media reporting collaborative that covered gun violence and gun culture in the U.S.
Course
Melissa Strong
Back-end DeveloperMelissa is a systems administrator and Python developer with eight years of experience managing enterprise Linux environments and building automation solutions. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science at the University of Miami, specializing in data visualization. Melissa is passionate about making complex ideas more accessible through clear and engaging visuals that bridge the gap between technical detail and human understanding. Her course will be titled “Python for Data Visualization”.
Racquel Fygenson, PhD
Data Visualization Designer & ResearcherRacquel Fygenson researches the implications of different designs on readers’ perception of, and feeling towards, visualized information. She also works as a data visualization designer and developer and has 8 years of experience visualizing data across scientific, civic, and financial contexts at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, xtown.media, and JPMorganChase. Racquel has received numerous honors for her research, including a Best Paper Award at IEEE VIS in 2022 and a Best Poster Award at the Gordon Research Conference in 2025. Her course will be titled “How to Read Charts”.
Raymond Balise
Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the University of MiamiRay earned his PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Texas in 1996. He taught award-winning courses at Stanford in what’s now called data science until joining the University of Miami in 2014. There, he’s continued to earn teaching awards for courses in statistical computing, biostatistics, data science, and reproducible research. His current work explores the intersection of HIV, mental health, substance use, and health disparities.
Course
Robert Simmon
Visualization, Cartography, and Remote SensingRobert Simmon is a cartographer and science communicator who specializes in visualizing satellite data. He has decades of experience working with remote sensing experts and entrepreneurs, helping share their research and products with the public. Along the way he’s designed some of the most widely viewed imagery of our home planet. His course will be titled “Advanced Cartography”.
Rodolfo Almeida
Independent Information Designer and Visual JournalistRodolfo Almeida is a freelance visual journalist, information designer, and researcher from São Paulo. He holds a degree in journalism from PUC-SP and a master’s in design from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where he studied how the climate crisis is portrayed in dataviz. He has created dozens of infographics for outlets like Nexo Jornal, Núcleo, The Intercept, Greenpeace, the European Commission and more. His work has been recognized by awards like Malofiej, SND, Sigma, ÑH, and IIB.
Course
Sakina Salem
Data Visualisation DesignerSakina is an award-winning independent data designer specialising in interactive storytelling. She believes in using design and technology to simplify data and highlight insights for informed decisions. As Design Lead at Code for Africa for over five years, she developed and delivered in-depth training programmes and written modules for Academy.africa and BBC Media Action. Her trainees included data scientists and journalists who learned to use tools such as Flourish, Datawrapper, and Google Earth to communicate complex data more effectively. Her course will be titled “Visualizing Data with Flourish”.
Vinicius Sueiro
Designer and Front-end DeveloperVinicius (Vini) Sueiro is a Brazilian designer using technology to inform & delight humans. With 15 years of experience, he has led data visualization projects for organizations like Google, The Washington Post, Estadão, Roche, and the World Health Organization. With a bachelor’s in Design by the University of São Paulo and a master’s in Interaction Design by Malmö University, Vinicius also has experience as an educator, both in Brazil and at the University of Miami. His course will be titled “Crafting Graphics with JavaScript”.
Contributors
Frank Elavsky
Accessibility ConsultantFrank is a PhD candidate and researcher at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. His work explores the intersection of interactive data visualization and accessibility. Frank has collaborated with companies such as Apple's Human-Centered Machine Intelligence research group, Adobe, Microsoft, Visa, and Highcharts. Frank’s contributions focus on enabling people with and without disabilities to find insights, make decisions, and live better lives using data.
Jay Wilkins
Music and Sound EffectsJay Wilkins is a musician from Atlanta. With a degree in media scoring from the University of Miami, they are a composer influenced by a wide variety of genres from early video game chiptune to punk, from jazz to classical.
Larry Flores II
Video Production and EditingLarry began his filmmaking journey at Texas Christian University, where he discovered his creative voice, and later continued his studies at the University of Miami, with an M.F.A. in Motion Pictures. His films have been screened at Miami Film Festival, Sunscreen Film Festival and Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival. He is a winner of the Best Student Film at the Coconut Grove Film Festival for his directorial work on Purple Grooves: a Funky Tragedy.
Melissa Strong
Back-end Developer and Newsletter ContributorMelissa is a systems administrator and Python developer with eight years of experience managing enterprise Linux environments and building automation solutions. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science at the University of Miami, specializing in data visualization. Melissa is passionate about making complex ideas more accessible through clear and engaging visuals that bridge the gap between technical detail and human understanding.
Michela Tjan
Newsletter Contributor and Developer, Captions and TranscriptionsMichela Tjan is an AI Engineer at Detect, where she develops scalable AI solutions for utility asset management using drone and smartphone imagery. A former competitive golfer for Indonesia’s National Team turned data scientist, she holds a master’s in data science from the University of Miami, where she conducted research in machine learning, computer vision, and model explainability. Michela is also part of the founding freelancers at Data Freelancers, blending technical expertise with storytelling to create impactful, interdisciplinary solutions.
Nancy Cermeño
Captions and TranscriptionsNancy Cermeño is an educator, visual journalist, and social change agent committed to transforming both society and the ways individuals understand their power within it. She believes meaningful change begins with deep listening, mindfulness, generative dialogue, and creative expression—practices that build bridges across difference and open pathways toward healing, justice, and collective action. Her work centers on co-creating solutions that build community power and support a more equitable society.
Rosaura Echegaray
Logistics and FinanceRosaura Echegaray is the Program Coordinator at the School of Communication, where she partners with the Knight Chairs in Data Visualization and Interactive Media to bring innovative programs and events to life. She manages logistics and strategic coordination for externally funded initiatives, working closely with faculty, students, and community stakeholders. Her role centers on creating impactful experiences that advance the school’s mission to promote media literacy and strengthen communication in today’s fast-changing landscape.
Vinicius Sueiro
Designer and Front-end DeveloperVinicius (Vini) Sueiro is a Brazilian designer using technology to inform & delight humans. With 15 years of experience, he has led data visualization projects for organizations like Google, The Washington Post, Estadão, Roche, and the World Health Organization. With a bachelor’s in Design by the University of São Paulo and a master’s in Interaction Design by Malmö University, Vinicius also has experience as an educator, both in Brazil and at the University of Miami.
Course
- Crafting Graphics with JavaScript (Coming soon)
Xiaoqian Dong
Course DocumentationXiaoqian Dong is a first-year PhD student at the University of Miami, majoring in communication with a focus on data visualization and visual communication. She is a graphic designer and a journalist who spent several years in China working as a journalist and video editor. Xiaoqian earned her master's degree from Syracuse University, where she studied Multimedia, Photography, and Design.
