Explore Explain
Andy Kirk
Explore Explain is a long-form podcast and video series hosted by Andy Kirk and launched early 2020. It goes deep behind the scenes of data visualisation projects.
Each episode is structured around a conversation with visualisation designers, developers, or data journalists to explore the design story behind a single visualisation or a related major project. Guests explain the thought-process behind and share insights about the myriad little decisions that underpin the finished works they produce.
Audiences will gain an appreciation of the what, the why and the how, learning about the hidden problems and challenges, the breakthroughs and the eureka moments. You'll learn about the things that were done and the things that were not done, the pressures and frustrations as well as successes and failures.
Each season comprises nine episodes and always seeks to include guests representing a diverse cast of talented practitioners from across the field and around the world, showcasing a wide variety of different types of visualisation work.
Every episode is published as both an audio interview as well as an enhanced video conversation, enriched by detailed visuals that illuminate the discussions. Visit the Youtube channel to see all the recordings, including shorter highlight episodes.
To read more about each episode, and browse through the full archive of conversations, visit the Podcast page on Andy Kirk's Visualising Data website. Explore Explain is a Bethany Andrew production.
Each episode is structured around a conversation with visualisation designers, developers, or data journalists to explore the design story behind a single visualisation or a related major project. Guests explain the thought-process behind and share insights about the myriad little decisions that underpin the finished works they produce.
Audiences will gain an appreciation of the what, the why and the how, learning about the hidden problems and challenges, the breakthroughs and the eureka moments. You'll learn about the things that were done and the things that were not done, the pressures and frustrations as well as successes and failures.
Each season comprises nine episodes and always seeks to include guests representing a diverse cast of talented practitioners from across the field and around the world, showcasing a wide variety of different types of visualisation work.
Every episode is published as both an audio interview as well as an enhanced video conversation, enriched by detailed visuals that illuminate the discussions. Visit the Youtube channel to see all the recordings, including shorter highlight episodes.
To read more about each episode, and browse through the full archive of conversations, visit the Podcast page on Andy Kirk's Visualising Data website. Explore Explain is a Bethany Andrew production.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 7, 2022 • 1h 12min
S3E5 - Valentina D'Efilippo
Welcome to episode 5 of season 3 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Valentina D'Efilippo, freelance design director, trainer, speaker, and author.
We had a detailed conversation about the data and design story behind Valentina's project 'London Under The Microscope', a unique visualisation-sonification video project portraying the impact of Covid-19 on London.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Valentina's design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Oct 25, 2021 • 1h 1min
S3E4 - Eleanor Lutz & Lisa Waananen Jones
Welcome to episode 4 of season 3 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Eleanor Lutz, Graphics Editor at New York Times, and Lisa Waananen Jones, journalist, designer, and Professor.
We had a detailed conversation about the data and design story behind the New York Times' ongoing project to track the coronavirus status around the world and across the States.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of their design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Jun 17, 2021 • 1h 2min
S3E3 - Jane Zhang
Welcome to episode 3 of season 3 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Jane Zhang, an independent data visualization designer based in Toronto.
We had a detailed conversation about the design story behind a project Jane worked on titled the 'The food your grandmother made'.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Jane's design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
May 20, 2021 • 1h 5min
S3E2 - Thomas Clever
Welcome to episode 2 of season 3 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Thomas Clever, co-founder and Managing Director of data design and technology company, 'CLEVERºFRANKE'.
We had a detailed conversation about the design story behind a project he and his team worked on titled the 'Globalance World'.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Thomas' team's design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Apr 22, 2021 • 1h 9min
S3E1 - Andrea Lau
Welcome to episode 1 of season 3 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Andrea Lau, data visualisation designer and co-founder of the Australian-based data visualisation consultancy 'Small Multiples'.
We had a detailed conversation about the design story behind a project she and her team worked on for the UNDP during 2020 titled the 'COVID-19 Socio-Economic Recovery Data Insight Platform'.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Andrea's team design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 18, 2020 • 1h 7min
S2E9 - Miriam Quick & Stefanie Posavec
Welcome to episode 9 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Miriam Quick - journalist, researcher, and author - and Stefanie Posavec - designer, artist, and author.
We had a detailed conversation about their creative process developing and designing a new book they co-authored titled 'I am a book. I am a portal to the universe.', which was published in September 2020.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Miriam and Stef's collaborative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 15, 2020 • 1h 8min
S2E8 - Craig Taylor
Welcome to episode 8 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Craig Taylor, Senior Data Visualisation Design Manager, Ito World.
We had a detailed conversation about the data, design, and production story behind a 'data art'-inspired video he created called 'Transit in Motion', which was released in June 2020.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Craig's design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 11, 2020 • 1h 9min
S2E7 - Jen Christiansen & Moritz Stefaner
Welcome to episode 7 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Jen Christiansen, Senior Data Reporter at The Guardian (US), and Moritz Stefaner, .In this seventh episode I am delighted to welcome Jen Christiansen, Senior Graphics Editor at Scientific American, and Moritz Stefaner, self-employed 'Truth and Beauty Operator'.
We had a detailed conversation about the data, editorial, and design story behind a combined print and interactive visualisation project exploring '175 years of word usage patterns in Scientific American', published in the magazine's September 2020 issue.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Jen and Moritz's collaborative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 8, 2020 • 1h 8min
S2E6 - Alvin Chang
Welcome to episode 6 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Alvin Chang, Senior Data Reporter at The Guardian (US).
Alvin shares the data, editorial, and design story behind a long-form article titled 'We can draw school zones to make classrooms less segregated. This is how well your district does', that he wrote for Vox, published in 2018.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Alvin's creative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 2, 2020 • 55min
S2E5 - Giorgia Lupi
Welcome to episode 5 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Giorgia Lupi, information designer and partner at Pentagram, New York.
Giorgia shares the design story behind a data-driven fashion collection she developed for '&Other Stories' in 2019.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Giorgia's creative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
