VISUALOOP

In a nutshell, Visualoop is a digital environment dedicated to all things data visualization related. We try to bring together experts from fields such as information design, cartography or visual journalism, with students and others interested in expanding their knowledge about data visualization. Founded in early 2010 as a Tumblr blog, the first major update came in 2012, with the launch Visualoop and Visualoop Brasil – the sister website that covers the dynamic visualization scene in Bra... zil and Portugal. And now, two years later, another important milestone, with the acquisition by Infogr.am (read the full announcement here). One of the key points that made possible the deal between Visualoop and Infogr.am was the guaranteed editorial independence, without which the value of Visualoop both as a web property and as a qualitative reference in the field would radically drop. To assure that this independence is maintained, we created the Visualoop editorial board – a group of respectable professionals that exceed in their respective fields, with strong academic and operational background, and an understanding of the visual literacy challenges at a global scale. This last point is, in fact, the core mission of the whole editorial policy, here on Visualoop. On a daily basis we try to motivate, inspire, and aid in any way possible those who are seeking a deeper understanding of what data visualization can – and can’t – do for their organizations. For example, we think that by showcasing, side-by-side, the most well-know information designers and practitioners with young talented students, eager to develop their skills and without question motivated by sharing the same digital space that those professionals. But the most exciting of it all is not the round ups of resources, infographics and visualizations, or the portfolios, guest posts and interviews. The most amazing thing is the understanding of how much is yet to be done, to be explored, in the field of visualization. Scientific communication, data journalism, cartography, business analytics, open data – there are so many areas of interest and application, alongside all the researchers and academic institutions pushing the boundaries of the field. More blogs, more books, more courses, more events… This is why we believe the conversations around visualization should be cross-disciplinary, with each fresh perspective adding a new layer of clarity, new visions on what could – or should – lie ahead.More