Mona Chalabi on channelling complex societal issues into viral data visualisations

If you aren’t one of Mona Chalabi’s 439,000 Instagram followers, it’s very likely you’ll have seen her work shared in your feeds, or in the likes of The New York Times and The Guardian. Her playful and accessible illustrations and infographics have helped visualise important information on topics including Covid-19, gender equality, human rights, racial injustice, climate change and the Israeli-Palestine conflict. And her recent work 100 New Yorkers, which visualises the racial, economic and social realities of the city’s population, is currently displayed in the Westfield World Trade Center in the city.

Joining D&AD President Naresh Ramchandani, Chalabi discussed how she makes data accessible through her illustrations, working with political messages, and why developing her practical skills was key to building her creative career. Watch it back above.

Watch more creatives who have previously joined D&AD President Naresh Ramchandani for a chat and learn about their careers and practice.