The PolicyViz Podcast Exploring Creative Data Visualization with Nadieh Bremer
Nov 26, 2025
Nadieh Bremer, a data visualization designer and author known for her creative approach to charts, discusses her new book, Chart. She explains how she structures it from straightforward visuals to intricate data art, emphasizing the power of uncommon charts like Sankey diagrams. Nadieh shares her makerspace experiences, revealing how physical making influences her digital designs. She also delves into the importance of sketching post-exploration and adapting visuals to suit client needs, all while championing clarity and engagement in data storytelling.
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Creativity Exists On A Spectrum
- Nadieh frames creativity in dataviz as a spectrum from straightforward charts to data art.
- This spectrum helps choose appropriate levels of creativity based on audience and purpose.
Makerspace Course Revealed Physical Complexity
- Nadieh took a 20-week makerspace course during COVID to learn laser cutting, 3D printing, and electronics.
- The experience taught her how much harder physical fabrication and debugging can be than digital work.
Choose Chart Form Based On Story Needs
- Consider whether a nontraditional chart (Sankey, treemap, network) conveys the story more effectively than bars or lines.
- Ask how exact values need to be and how quickly readers must interpret the chart before choosing form.
