Ever since we started Data Sketches in 2016, we've dreamed of creating a beautiful coffee table book with large, indulgent images of our projects, side-by-side with our very technical process write-ups.
After years of hard work, we've created a book we're incredibly proud of and we can't wait to share it with you!
As an educator focused on computational media, I consistently point students towards Shirley and Nadieh's work for inspiration. I am so thrilled and excited that they've synthesized years of hard work and exploration into Data Sketches, which is now my go-to resource for coders interested in creative expression and storytelling with data!
Written in an approachable, first-person angle, this book is a delightful behind-the-scenes look at the process for creating any sophisticated data visualization. It provides many personal tips for every stage of development, from data collection and analysis, to sketching and final production. The authors have done a tremendous job in demystifying a normally opaque practice. They made it seem so easy you will want to start on your own project right away.
Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu are wondrous eccentrics. Their splendid book is the product of a collaborative experimental project, Data Sketches, that might be one of the first exponents of an emerging visualization orthodoxy in which uniqueness is paramount and templates and conventions are viewed with scepticism.
Data Sketches is a collaboration between Nadieh Bremer and Shirley Wu, where we chose twelve different topics and each created a data visualization for a total of 24 projects. Â We then documented the whole process from data collection, to sketch and ideation, to code.
Nadieh Bremer is a graduated astronomer, turned data scientist, turned freelancing data visualization designer. She's worked for companies such as Google, UNESCO, Scientific American, and the New York Times. As 2017’s “Best Individual” in the Information is Beautiful Awards, she focuses on uniquely-crafted data visualizations that are both effective and visually appealing for print and online.
Shirley Wu is an award-winning creative focused on data-driven art and visualizations. She has worked with clients such as Google, The Guardian, SFMOMA, and NBC Universal to develop custom, highly interactive data visualizations. She combines her love for art, math, and code into colorful, compelling narratives that push the boundaries of the web.
