iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 29/09/2026

⭐ EARLY BIRD PRICES EXTENDED ⭐ More about my upcoming Creative Dataviz Workshop with Sophie Sparkes on November 3rd 2006 in London - we'd love to see you there. Happy to answer any questions! sparkescreative.kit.com/from-questio...

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 16/06/2026

View during the 2 day in person Data Visualisation & Storytelling course I delivered in Mallorca at the weekend. I can deliver the same great course for you/your team, on a sunny island, in the UK rain or online - passion and knowledge for dataviz is the same the world over! neilrichardsdata.com

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 01/06/2026

@mrjamesob.bsky.social - you worry you are turning into Victor Meldrew. That's because (like me, a fellow 1972 person) you have passed your Meldrew Point! You are older than Richard Wilson was when he started playing Victor Meldrew. Check this visualisation ...

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 27/08/2025

What were the chances of that? - I met the guy who sold me the @datavandals.bsky.social T-shirt right here in Vienna! Great to catch up with @jasonforrest.bsky.social as part of @csh.ac.at’s Visualising Complexity workshop - so many great people are here collaborating on fun visualisation projects

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 25/08/2025

Looking forward to a week of fun complex dataviz in Vienna! 🇦🇹

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 25/07/2025

NEW: Questions in Dataviz: What is a Hitomezashi Snowflake? questionsindataviz.com/2025/07/25/w... Inspired by @mathskath.bsky.social - looking at encoding data as hitomezashi stitching (steganocoding) and creating digital equivalents, before diving into the mathematics of snowflakes.

An order 5 hitomezashi snowflake created using Tableau (includes snowflakes of order 1,2,3 within)

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 25/07/2025

I started trying to generate hitomezashi using data (e.g. converting names to binary to generate patterns) but my friend Annabelle Rincon has already done this brilliantly: public.tableau.com/app/profile/... It didn't stop me trying the process myself by converting my name into Morse Code though!

Hitomezashi pattern generated from the name "Neil Richards" in morse code

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 24/07/2025

My latest visualisation - Hitomezashi Snowflakes. Inspired by @mathskath.bsky.social and her book A Stitch in Line, here's my digital recreation of an order five Fibonacci snowflake (highlighted in white, with smaller order snowflakes in different colours). Blog post and explanation to follow! 📊

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 14/07/2025

Updated my Emily Vanderpoel inspired Wimbledon viz with yesterday's Singles Finals games.. Even an unorthodox design-inspired viz can show how cruel tennis scoring can be. Anisimova may not have registered a single game but did win just over 30% of the total points in Swiatek's 6-0 6-0 win. 📊

Vanderpoel inspired data visualisation showing different types of points won in the two Wimbledon finals games played yesterday.

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 10/07/2025

These are amazing - I need to learn to crochet! (though entry level Hitomezashi might be more attainable for me). What is the maths behind them? Reminds me (a little) of my Decimal Walks project

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 10/07/2025

If you see this, quote post with a robot that isn’t from Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr Who and Transformers

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 08/07/2025

NEW: How do we take inspiration from colour palettes? questionsindataviz.com/2025/07/08/h... My latest blog post features my newest visualisation, looking at two Wimbledon matches in the style of 1901 artist, author and colour theory expert Emily Noyes Vanderpoel.

Vanderpoel style visualisations of Alcaraz v Norrie and Sabalenka v Siegemund

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 02/07/2025

Ok, BBC Sport, a full filled in bar represents 57%? Got it - that’s nice and clear 🤯

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 30/06/2025

Just seen my first waterfall chart in real life - on @bbcnewsuk.bsky.social 📊

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 29/06/2025

My latest book arrival - modern reprint of 1901 original by Emily Noyes Vanderpoel. 116 colour plates, mostly 10x10 analysis grids of colour compositions from historical and cultural objects. 10x10 grids, minimalist pictures, coloured blocks, how have I just found this now?! #datavizinspiration

Book photo: Color Problems by Emily Noyes Vanderpoel

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 13/06/2025

It’s #IIBAwards here at the Coral Gables Museum in Miami. Honoured to be here with @datarevelations.com and @datavizsociety.bsky.social Executive Director Christopher Laubenthal

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 12/06/2025

Next up at #outlier2025 is @mikevizneros.bsky.social and Alex Velez from @storytellingwith.bsky.social - explaining how “nothing” matters - when data is missing we lack trust in the data.

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 12/06/2025

The results of Sophie Sparkes’ workshop at #outlier2025 - so much fun!

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 12/06/2025

Time for a pens, paper, data workshop with the brilliant Sophie Sparkes at #outlier2025

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 12/06/2025

I’m such a big fan of Liuhuaying Yang and her work at @csh.ac.at - her remote talk at #outlier2025 “this is not interesting … but it could be” shows how dry subjects can become engaging visualisations (and in this case, sonifications!). Can’t wait to visit Vienna for a workshop in August!

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 12/06/2025

First up at #outlier2025 is @frank.computer - bringing his unparalleled accessibility knowledge to a new campaign: should software be “softer”?

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

Next up at #outlier2025, Zan Armstrong introduces diagnostic charts - the middle ground of really useful charts beyond simple “explore” or “explain” charts - some fascinating science-inspired examples!

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

No offence to everyone else here at #outlier2025 but a talk by @datarevelations.com is basically the highlight of any conference - worth the entry fee alone! Here he tells us the importance of Seeing Data through your Audience’s Eyes

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

Thankfully @amycesal.com, Max Graze, Alan Wilson and @policyviz.bsky.social managed to get their fifteen style guide tips into one summary slide at #outlier2025 so I didn’t have to pick one!

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

It’s the chART virtual book launch at #outlier2025 - here’s @nadiehbremer.com and @juliebrunet.bsky.social appearing remotely, with @zanewolf.bsky.social proudly displaying the real book! Can’t wait to get hold of my copy (frustratingly 3000 miles away from me at home right now!)

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

From Jose Duarte’s talk at #outlier2025 about data literacy and access in Latin America - show your answer on an interactive pie chart, what a great interactive talking point for data presentations!

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

From Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson at #outlier2025 - this eye-catching indigenous Polynesian data visualisation is not the conventional data visualisation I am more familiar with!

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

The next panel discussion at #outlier2025 comes with its own “create your own dataviz” 🤔

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

@mhernandez.bsky.social of The New York Times takes us through his work and portfolio at #Outlier2025 - an amazing portfolio but he describes himself as a “janitor” - a lot of cleaning, and a lot of doing pretty much everything unglamorous! (Example is from a previous role at Reuters)

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

Next at #outlier2025 is @chartwaali.bsky.social with her learnings about collaboration and setting up a successful (multi IIB award-nominated) company

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

Here’s (what I’m told was) an Egyptian Goose from the Fairchild Botanical Gardens in Miami yesterday. A wise man once told me that Egyptian Geese are not from Egypt!

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

Love how Elizabeth Palmer Peabody “wanted her audience to stop and reflect” - from @laurenfklein.bsky.social’s introductory keynote featuring #DataXDesign at #outlier2025

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 11/06/2025

Starting right now at University of Miami it’s #Outlier2025, the @datavizsociety.bsky.social annual conference. What better way to start than an introduction from the legendary @albertocairo.com! 🤩

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 06/06/2025

Bit of a posting hiatus while I’m on holiday (ahead of @datavizsociety.bsky.social’s Outlier conference next week) Always finding #datavizinspiration though! (Courtesy of a drumstick installation at @hardrockhotels.bsky.social)

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 24/04/2025

NEW: Questions in Dataviz: Why visualise data on postcards? questionsindataviz.com/2025/04/24/w... Postcards are small, analogue, personal, and fun, with dataviz considerations all of their own. A triple tribute to #20GreenIdeas, to Binoculars to Binomials from @jerthorp.bsky.social, and Dear Data.

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 14/04/2025

Having a lot of fun on @jerthorp.bsky.social's Binoculars to Binomials course, despite two steep learning curves picking up birdwatching skills and p5.js coding all at the same time. Inspired by a morning song in my garden most days, here's a fun viz (with sound) of a Eurasian wren's song, in p5.js

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 02/04/2025

🌍 Day 1: #20GreenIdeas Challenge No One is Too Small to Make a Difference - Greta Thunberg - Greta has Asperger's, sees things in black & white - We should panic, as our house is on fire! 🔥 Black & white for the postcard, with a highlight "panic" colour of red. Chart explanation in ALT-text

As of 1/1/2018, the IPCC determined that there was an available global carbon budget of 420 gigatonnes to use by 2030 in order to have a 67% chance of keeping temperatures at just 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial norms.

By mid-2019 we were already off target, on schedule to hit the 2030 deadline four years too early.

My key takeaway was that (as per the book chapter of the same name) - you can't make up your own data to suit your viewpoint. Whatever you might think of her campaigning rhetoric, she backs it up with scientific data. Something that data visualisers can see, show, share, and use as a call to action.

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 28/03/2025

Join me in a creative learning challenge initiated by Jeremy Connell-Waite & Valentina d'Efilippo on LinkedIn! From April 2nd-22nd - #EarthDay - we'll read a book a day of Penguin's Green Ideas series and create a sketch, illustration, infographic, or dataviz related to the theme. 📊 #20greenideas

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 14/03/2025

Some people think today is Pi Day. Although the more accurate Pi Day is 22nd July (22/7), in honour of those who can't wait, here's one of my π visualisations from a few years ago (replicating an artwork on display in the University of Cambridge from James Holleyhead in 2003) 😊

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 22/02/2025

I want to make a really bad bar chart so we can review, comment and fix on the fly in upcoming training (for not dataviz folk). It's quite a lot of fun making a really bad chart, but, short of making it 3D, can anyone suggest any other #dataviz clangers I can add to make it even worse? 📊

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 20/02/2025

I am delighted to announce I have been selected once more to be a judge for this year's @datavizsociety.bsky.social Information is Beautiful Awards - a celebration of global excellence in data visualisation. Stay tuned for the Longlist announcement on March 10th!

Announcement - I’m a Judge at the Information is Beautiful Awards 2024

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 12/02/2025

Now Starbucks … a word about axes scales … 📊

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 09/02/2025

Anyone else go down rabbit-holes while looking online for viz and design inspiration, or just me? 📊 In unrelated news, here's me as a Lego mosaic

Me as a LEGO mosaic created entirely of white, grey, yellow and black lego pieces.

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 30/01/2025

I love receiving books from @counterprint.bsky.social - every book is always great design inspiration and hand-wrapped like a gift. Latest arrival came complete with rainbow confetti - perfect for a physical beeswarm of colour! 🌈

Confetti included in Counterprint book delivery

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 27/01/2025

I’m already excited about @nadiehbremer.com’s new book coming out this year. Even more so now that I know it’s being released on my birthday! 🎈

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 17/01/2025

Here's one from me from many years ago - it was inspired by @rougeux.bsky.social (also attached)

League Champions - an early arc viz from Neil Richards

Discovering the Elements - by Nicholas Rougeux

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Neil Richards @questionsindataviz.com · 31/12/2024

Brilliant funny text based bar chart from @bmj.com - swearing and frustration versus dexterity among surgeons and different levels of UK medical staff Here’s the full article (hat tip @puntofisso.bsky.social and his awesome weekly Quantum of Solazzo data newsletter) www.bmj.com/content/387/...

Swearing and frustration versus dexterity levels of surgeons and other UK medical staff by way of a text filled bar chart from BMJ

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