My Ph.D. research in cartography examines how the context of data production can strengthen responsible and critical mapmaking. Through workshops with data visualization and mapmaking practitioners, I explore strategies and prototypes for embedding data provenance and context into visualization workflows.
Individual Workshops
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EuroCarto Conference 2026
Link to conferenceJust as every map is based on the mapmaker’s conscious and unconscious decisions, every dataset – the basis of any map – is shaped by its production context. So, what can it look like to research and reflect on the dataset production context as part of mapmaking? By focusing on participant perspectives, this in-person workshop at the European Cartographic Conference 2026 fosters the exchange and development of ideas needed to strengthen responsible data practices and integrate production context into the mapmaking workflow.
IEEE Vis Conference 2026
Link to conferenceThis half-day in-person workshop is co-organized with Meghan Kelly. Apart from a keynote (speaker will be announced soon) and some discussions in the big group, it will mostly be organised in interactive and creative small group exercises. Embedded in a broader data viz context, we will also discuss the special challenges and benefits of maps as a visualization type that not only shows attributes but also spatial relations.
Topic and design of the workshops
Throughout the workshops, we will explore key questions together: How do we research dataset backgrounds? What information is required for a comprehensive fitness-for-use analysis? How can we adapt our designs to data caveats? And how can we move beyond being “strangers in the dataset” (D'Ignazio & Klein, p. 130) and “bridge the gap between data and reality” (Lin et al., p. 1189)?
The workshop will use creative, participatory methods (e.g. brainstorming, sketching, wireframing, and prototyping) to ensure inclusive engagement. These activities are inspired by the four key steps in co-creation:
- Engage and exchange: Share challenges and experiences with data caveats, and how to address them in analysis and visualization.
- Understand: Discussing user needs for a tool that supports researching and reflecting on dataset production context in visualization workflows.
- Ideation and brainstorming: Gather and cluster relevant information regarding dataset production contexts (general or use-case specific), explore useful formats, and sketch simple prototypes.
- Discuss and validate: Discuss (and optionally test) prototypes with other groups to refine ideas.
Centering practitioner perspectives, these workshops provide a space to brainstorm and prototype tools, guidelines, and strategies. Together, we will explore how to navigate data positionality and the decisions behind its creation, ultimately co-creating workflows for more responsible data practices.
Thematic Background
Data is never neutral or objective (D'Ignazio & Klein, Loukissas, Dalton & Thatcher). It is shaped by the production of data and “this context is essential for conducting accurate, ethical analysis” (D'Ignazio & Klein, p. 149). While various frameworks for documenting data production (e.g., metadata, data biographies, and datasheets for datasets) exist, responsible and reflexive data practices too often focus on data analysis processes and visualization decision-making and ethics. To use data responsibly, practitioners must acknowledge the entirety of the visualization process beginning with data production. In other words, acknowledging data’s positionality including their situatedness and contingency (Kitchin) must be paired with concrete strategies to interrogate data production practices, and innovative tools that make visible the production of data in analysis and visualization workflows.
In my work, I define responsible data practices as an intentional way of working with data that
- takes into account the fact that data is never neutral or objective, and therefore considers the context in which the data was produced.
- acts with responsibility for affected communities and considers possible (negative) consequences, aiming for an accurate, fair and equitable representation of communities and topics.
Dalton C. and Thatcher J., What Does A Critical Data Studies Look Like, And Why Do We Care?, 2014.
D’Ignazio C. and Klein L.F., Data Feminism, 2020.
Kitchin R., Critical Data Studies: An A to Z Guide to Concepts and Methods, 2025.
Lin H., Lisnic M., Akbaba D., Meyer M., and Lex A., Here’s what you need to know about my data: Exploring Expert Knowledge’s Role in Data Analysis, 2026.
Loukissas Y. A., All data are local: Thinking critically in a data-driven society, 2019.
Target group of the workshops
If you are a practitioner with experience in mapping or data visualization who wishes to use data (more) critically, responsibly, and ethically, please join my workshop.
It will be great! I'm also excited to welcome people and institutions producing and publishing geospatial data.
If you are someone who does not have this experience but think you can contribute something else, or would like to learn about it, please reach out to indicate your interest!
- Backgrounds: All backgrounds are welcome.
- Focus: While we primarily focus on quantitative data for thematic mapping, discussions and learnings can be transferred to a wide range of visualization use cases.
Participation and Registration
Registration is managed directly through each event's host website. No pre-workshop submissions or applications are required - just sign up and join the conversation! I aim to share a summary of the results with participants following the session.
Please note that these workshops are part of an ongoing Ph.D. study. To support this research, the workshop processes and results will be documented and analyzed. All data will be anonymized or pseudonymized.
Workshop Materials
Workshop materials will be published here in due time.
About Me
I am a social science graduate with a passion for data. I'm currently teaching web mapping and doing a PhD in cartography at TU Wien, Austria. Feel free to reach out via email or on LinkedIn. I'm happy to exchange!