Amy Cesal is an internationally recognized data visualization designer, educator, and consultant whose work bridges the worlds of design, data, and communication. She is a co-founder of the Data Visualization Society, where she served as the programs director and continues to serve on the advisory board.
Amy’s innovative and unusual visualization work has garnered her three Information is Beautiful Awards, including recognition for her playful and experimental approaches to making data both legible and engaging. She is also a pioneer in accessibility in data visualization, and the use of data visualization style guidelines, having developed some of the first comprehensive guides for organizations such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Sunlight Foundation, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Morning Consult, and Moody’s. These guidelines have become widely influential in ensuring consistency, accessibility, and clarity in the way organizations communicate data.
In addition to her design and consulting work, Amy is an adjunct professor in the Data Analytics and Visualization graduate program at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and the Information Design and Strategy graduate program at Northwestern University. She specializes in working with subject matter experts to transform complex datasets into accessible, legible, and visually compelling stories, with particular attention to accessibility and inclusivity in design.
Amy is a frequent speaker, writer, and thought leader on the role of design in making data understandable and impactful. She enjoys creating spaces for connection, whether through building communities, teaching future leaders in the field, or experimenting with new forms of data art that blur the boundaries between analysis and creativity.
Her portfolio ranges from government transparency initiatives to corporate and nonprofit strategy, always with the goal of making information clearer, fairer, and more human. Beyond her professional practice, Amy is known for her creative side projects—such as Play-Doh data visualizations—that push the boundaries of what data communication can look like.
Academic Affiliation
Information Visualization MPS '16