Visual journalist Will Chase uses a set of green squares to demonstrate how much money six billionaires have donated from their net worth. Billionaire MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, stands out from the crowd, giving away $12 billion in just three years. This chart illustrates the small questions, like “could we use something other than a barchart?” that can make for refreshing and intuititve visualizations.

Researchers Helena Varkkey and Michelle Ann Miller collaborated on this piece for the Kontinentalist to explain the high costs and drivers of transboundary haze in Southeast Asia. Combining a great scroll-linked illustration, a map of the region, and various charts, they put into context the ramifications of pollution on the health of inhabitants, the economy, and the environment.

Data journalist Erin Davis researched who Portland’s streets are named after. Through a series of static maps, she shows that people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ community are underrepresented compared to white men.

The Financial Times has created “The Climate Game,” an online game that puts individuals in charge of implementing policies to reduce energy-related carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050.

Its decision-making format helps players see the real-life consequences of various climate change policies. Try playing the game to see if your efforts can help save the planet! (Good luck.)

This project from Alice Zhang explores how the first wave of immigrants from Asia and the ones after have shaped Asian American/AAPI identity in the United States. Stellar design direction and meaningful scroll-linked interactions make for great storytelling toward an important topic. (Also, the project was made without any code!)