Open Visualization Academy by Alberto Cairo
A free repository of knowledge about information design, data visualization, and data literacy.
Courses
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Introduction to Information Design and Data Visualization
Author:
Alberto Cairo
Duration: 5h
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Accessibility in Data Visualization
Author:
Frank Elavsky
Duration: 3h30
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Coming soon
Feminist Data Visualization
Authors:
Lauren Klein
Catherine D'Ignazio
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The Craft of Building Stories with Data
Author:
Gurman Bhatia
Duration: 3h30
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Cartography and Map Design with QGIS
Author:
Hannah Dormido
Duration: 3h
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Using RAWGraphs.io to Visualize Data
Author:
Hannah Dormido
Duration: 1h30
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Adobe Illustrator for Visualization Design
Author:
Hiram Henriquez
Duration: 14h30
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Generative AI in Data Analysis
Author:
Joy Victor
Duration: 3h
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Storytelling with Datawrapper
Author:
Luis Melgar
Duration: 3h30
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Figma for Data Visualization
Author:
Rodolfo Almeida
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Coming soon
Visualization with R’s ggplot2 Package and AI Tools
Author:
Raymond Balise
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 most recent ones being ‘How Charts Lie’ (2019) and ‘The Art of Insight’ (2023)
Course
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)
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
- Feminist Data Visualization (Coming soon)
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.
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
Graphics Reporter and Cartographer at the Washington PostHannah Dormido is an award-winning visual journalist and cartographer at The Washington Post, where she focuses on national news and politics. With more than a decade of experience at The Post, Bloomberg News, and the Financial Times, she has shaped stories that turn complex data into compelling visuals. She is the 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
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 Journalist and Media EducatorKae 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. Their course will be titled ‘Data Exploration with Spreadsheets’
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
- Feminist Data Visualization (Coming soon)
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
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
- Visualization with R’s ggplot2 Package and AI Tools (Coming soon)
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
Vinicius Sueiro
Designer and Front-end DeveloperVinicius (Vini) Sueiro is a Brazilian designer using technology to inform & delight humans. With over 12 years of experience, he has led award-winning data visualization projects for organizations like Google, The Washington Post, Estadão, 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.
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 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 over 12 years of experience, he has led award-winning data visualization projects for organizations like Google, The Washington Post, Estadão, 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.
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.
