# Christian Laesser > Data Visualization & UX Designer at the intersection of complexity, data, and human understanding. Christian Laesser is a freelance data visualization & ux designer based in Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Austria. With over 15 years of experience. He helps organizations turn complex systems and datasets into intuitive, human-centered tools. His background spans public institutions, NGOs, and corporations, from early web development to designing interactive dashboards, workflows, and prototypes for teams tackling real-world challenges. He regularly collaborates with Moritz Stefaner, Alice Thudt, Studio NAND, and Interactive Things. Every project pulls in two directions. The data has a possible truth and the people using the tool have a need. My job is to serve both, even when that means pushing back on a design that looks good but says the wrong thing, telling a client their idea outruns what the data can actually support, or designing for what an AI system can't actually explain about itself. The need stays. So do the limits, data's or the model's. That tension is not a problem to solve. It's the work. ### Services - Data Visualization Design and Development -- I design data visualizations that communicate insight clearly and meaningfully. Whether the goal is public transparency or internal decision-making, I turn complex datasets into understandable visual tools. - Interface & User Experience Design -- I create intuitive digital experiences that help users understand and act on complex information. From dashboards to policy tools, I design interfaces that balance clarity, usability, and visual impact. - AI Transparency Design -- A model that no one can explain is a liability, not an asset. Compliance teams and consultants identify what an AI system needs: transparent outputs, human oversight, clear disclosure, a right to explanation. They rarely design what those things look like in the actual product. I design that layer: the interfaces, documentation, and explanations that turn EU AI Act requirements into experiences that work for the people who rely on them. ### Projects - brand eins themes - Color Theft: Steal colors from your favorite artists and create your own palettes. -- Website: https://artistcolors.laesser.net/ - Flows and Tolls - German Media Universe: A visualisation of the German media industry, its main players and the links between the various participants. -- Website: https://german-media-universe.laesser.net/#/ - Coffee Sustainability Support Database - Internet Health Report 2019 and 2020 - Laendle Network: A visualisation of the connections inbetween Vorarlberg companies, to find the key players of the area and see the overall footprint. -- Website: https://laendle.laesser.net/ - Looki: An experiement around data privacy. The first mobile app that simulates user behaviors to protect privacy and open up new possibilities. -- Website: https://looki.laesser.net/ - SMS to Paper Airplanes: Visualizing my long distance relationship through computer generated paper airplanes. - The Colors of Jean Giraud aka Moebius: A visual homage to Moebius, exploring how Jean Giraud's color use evolved across stories and time. -- Website: https://moebius.laesser.net/ - The Language of Science: Exploring 175 years of Scientific American's archives to uncover how science reporting has evolved, word by word, decade by decade. - The Metrorite Hunt: The visualization analyzes the connection between where meteorites have been found and who is interested in doing research on them. -- Website: https://meteorites.laesser.net/ - They Know: My interface design bachelor thesis. Interface design in government surveillance between fiction and reality. -- Website: https://they-know.org/en - Travel Visa Inequality: The visualization explores how equal citizen of different countries are treated in terms of traveling. -- Website: https://travel-visa-inequality.laesser.net/ - Van Gogh in images on Wikipedia: The visualization explores how different languages present Van Gogh's work and life by images. -- Website: https://van-gogh-at-wikipedia.laesser.net - Wahl 2Q17: Wahl 2Q17 uses Google Trends data to visualize the Google Search interest of the top candidates in the German general election 2017. - The Zeit and the COVID Virus: When and how did DIE ZEIT contract the coronavirus? A visual exploration of DIE ZEIT's mention of the coronavirus. -- Website: https://corona-zeit.laesser.net ### Selected Clients Over the years, I've been fortunate to work with global organizations, industry leaders, and innovative studios. I continue to collaborate closely with Moritz Stefaner, Alice Thudt, Studio NAND, and Interactive Things. - ACLED -- Armed Conflict Location & Event Data - DAVIF Research Group - EPFL -- Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne - FH Potsdam -- University of Applied Science - German Foreign Office - University Hamburg - University Zurich - UNESCO - WHO - World Bank Group - brand eins - Google News Lab - Ground Truth Solutions - Interface -- former Stiftung Neue Verantwortung e.V. - International Coffee Organization - Mozilla Foundation - Open Knowledge Foundation - Scientific American - The Green Web Foundation - DIE ZEIT - Adidas - Deutsche Bahn - Resourceful Humans - REWE - SURU Together - Universal Music - Vodafone - Birds on Mars - Interactive Things - Ming Labs - Perception - Studio Nand - Truth & Beauty - WE3 ### Client Feedback - "When I first saw the visualizations, it almost had me in tears. I was finally seeing what was happening." -- Anonymous, Capacity Manager, Deutsche Bahn - "Christian is an outstanding data visualization developer who has made meaningful and lasting contributions to the 2026 edition of the Atlas. His work stands out not only for its quality but also for the speed and efficiency with which he delivers -- consistently meeting expectations without compromising on creativity or precision. What sets Christian apart is his ability to bring genuinely original ideas to the table..." -- Divyanshi Wadhwa, Data scientist, Development Data Group, Worldbank Group - "Collaborating with Christian was a fantastic experience. He has a great ability to turn complex research and archival material into engaging data visualizations and digital storytelling. His prototypes provided clarity early in the process and helped shape the direction of the project with curiosity and creativity. Bringing theoretical and practical expertise into a productive dialogue is often difficult to achieve in interdisciplinary projects, which made this collaboration particularly rewarding." -- Dr. Sarah-Mai Dang, Principal Investigator, BMFTR Research Group DAVIF - "Christian was an integral part of the project. He was able to build mock ups of any data source quickly. In a complex field of research and policy, this was exactly what we needed in the process. It gave us guidance to understand which data was insightful, and which aspects we wanted to highlight. The final data visuals are thoughtful, precise and have been shared widely across our networks. Christian is very professional, and I can highly recommend working with him!" -- Katrin Fritsch, Senior Program Manager, Green Web Foundation - "Christian and Alice completely redesigned a number of tools we had previously developed in-house. With their skills, and Christian's conceptual development, we did not have to sacrifice on detail or depth, but instead could employ his wide range of talents to build some quite remarkable, interactive visualizations. " -- Clionadh Raleigh, CEO, ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) - "Working with Christian was a smooth process since the very beginning. He was always receptive to the data visualization design we were hoping to achieve, his expertise was instrumental to understand what was feasible and how our ideas could be improved. The communication channel was always open and the turnaround was usually faster than expected. We would be glad to collaborate with him again in the future." -- Ariana Ocampo Cruz, Project Manager, International Coffee Organizations ### Working Principles - User-Centered Design -- I put the end-user at the center of every decision. By deeply understanding their needs and the larger context, including environmental, social, and privacy considerations, I create solutions that are not only functional but also responsible and meaningful. - Data-Driven Decisions -- Meaningful data guides every step of my design process. From initial research to final evaluation, I use data to uncover insights, inform decisions, and ensure that the solutions I deliver are effective, relevant, and aligned with your objectives. - Flexible and Iterative -- Digital projects are dynamic, and so is my approach. I embrace an iterative process that evolves with challenges and opportunities, enabling continuous testing, learning, and refinement to deliver the best possible results. - Collaboration and Shared Success -- Great design is a team effort. I strive to build partnerships rooted in trust, mutual respect, and shared goals. As a collaborator, I aim to not only meet your project needs but also contribute to broader, more impactful outcomes. - Responsible Data Practices -- For me, data visualization begins with understanding how the data was gathered, questioning its context, limitations, and intent. This ensures that visualizations are not only accurate and ethical, but also respectful of the people and systems behind the numbers. - Responsible AI Practice -- I apply the same scrutiny to AI as I do to data, questioning its origins, limitations, and potential to mislead, work that now extends to designing for the EU AI Act. I use AI to accelerate research, drafting, and iteration, and I'm transparent with clients about where. But the thinking that matters, what a visualization argues, what it omits, how it serves the people it's built for, stays mine. ### Skills & Tools - Data Visualization -- data wrangling, data scraping (Python), mapping & geo-visualization, consulting -- Tools: D3.js, Observable, Svelte, Mapbox, Leaflet - UX & Interface Design -- user research, UX reviews & consulting, wireframing, prototyping -- Tools: Figma, Sketch - Visual Design -- typography, layout, color, data-specific visual systems - AI Transparency Design -- model cards, explainability interfaces - Frontend Development -- Tools: Svelte, HTML, CSS - Accessibility -- WCAG-aware design, color contrast, label clarity ### Work Experience - Data Visualization & UX Designer, christianlaesser.com (Freelance) (Jan 2017 - Present, Bregenz, Austria) -- I design interactive tools and data interfaces that help large organizations understand complex systems and act on what they find. My work sits at the intersection of data visualization, UX, and front-end development, with a focus on decisions that matter. - Senior Interaction Designer, MING Labs (Sep 2014 - Dec 2016, Berlin) -- Designed data-driven interfaces for enterprise clients including Adidas, Bosch, McKinsey, Barmer, REWE, and Vodafone. Led user research and interaction design across internal tools, dashboards, and consumer-facing products. - Data Visualization & Interaction Designer, Freelance (Oct 2009 - Aug 2014, Berlin) - Data Visualization Editor, ZEIT ONLINE (Jun 2013 - Jun 2014, Berlin) -- Produced interactive data visualizations for one of Germany's largest digital news publications. - Interaction Designer (Internship), Square (Oct 2012 - Jan 2013, New York) - Interaction Designer (Internship), Interactive Things (Jun 2012 - Sep 2012, Zurich) - Interaction Designer, iconmobile group (Nov 2011 - Feb 2012, Berlin) - Interaction Designer, Mag10 (Mar 2011 - Sep 2011, Berlin) - Interaction Designer (Internship), Strukt (Jul 2010 - Oct 2010, Vienna) - Graphic Designer & Web Developer, Sinnario (Jul 2001 - Oct 2008, Plauen) ### My Path - I began my career in banking, a stable path that quickly felt like the wrong fit. Drawn to the creative and technical potential of the web, I taught myself web design and development and started building websites in the early 2000s. - I later studied Communication Design at the Bauhaus University Weimar and Interface Design at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, gaining hands-on experience through internships at Strukt (Vienna), Interactive Things (Zurich), and Square (New York and San Francisco). - In 2013-2014, I joined ZEIT ONLINE as a part-time Data Visualization Editor. Working at the intersection of journalism and data design, where you have one chart and two seconds of attention, sharpened my thinking about what a visualization actually needs to do for the person looking at it. - After graduating in 2014, I worked as a Senior UX Designer at Berlin-based agencies on projects for Adidas, Bosch, McKinsey, Swisscom, and Vodafone. These years deepened my skills in simplifying complexity and designing scalable, user-centered systems. - Since 2017, I've worked independently to focus on data visualization and partner with public and nonprofit clients, aligning my practice with values like transparency, accessibility, and systems thinking, while designing tools and interfaces that help make complex information more understandable. - More recently, that practice has extended to AI Transparency Design: designing the interfaces, disclosures, and documentation that help organizations meet obligations like the EU AI Act and make AI outputs legible to the people who rely on them or are accountable for them. ### Appearances A selection of awards, conference talks, and exhibitions from over a decade of work in data visualization and interface design. - 2020: Malofiej Silver -- Features -- The Language of Science for Scientific American (with Moritz Stefaner) - 2017: Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards -- Bronze -- Peak Spotting (with Moritz Stefaner and Studio NAND) - 2017: Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards -- Honourable Mention -- Travel Visa Inequality - 2014: Axel Springer Award for Young Journalists, 3rd Place, Internet -- 100 Millionen at zeit.de (with Paul Blickle) - 2014: Malofiej Bronze -- Features -- Modeindustrie at zeit.de - 2014: Malofiej Bronze -- Breaking News -- Wählerwanderung at zeit.de - 2013: dpa-Infografik-Award, 2nd Place Interactive -- Wählerwanderung at zeit.de (with Ole Häntzschel) - 2012: Visualizing.org Challenge -- Winner -- 112 Years of Olympic Games - 2024: UX Design Meetup Vorarlberg -- Bregenz, Austria - 2023: FH Potsdam -- Guest Lecture -- Potsdam, Germany - 2021: Hochschule für Gestaltung -- Guest Lecture -- Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany - 2019: DataFest -- Munich, Germany - 2018: Information+ Conference -- Potsdam, Germany - 2018: Deutschen Logistik-Kongress -- Germany - 2017: Data Obscura -- with looki, London, UK - 2017: The Art of Networks III -- 100 Data Stories, Boston, USA - 2017: Politiken des Designs -- They Know, Potsdam, Germany - 2016: German Design Award -- Frankfurt, Germany ### Contact Email: mail@christianlaesser.com Address: Coworking Loft, Weiherstraße 6, 6900 Bregenz, Austria Website: https://www.christianlaesser.com ## Projects - [Atlas of Global Development 2026](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/projects/atlas-global-development-2026): Client: World Bank Group. Visualization design and development for the World Bank's Atlas of Global Development 2026, covering two interactive scrollytelling stories on education and urbanization, plus design support and chart reviews across all 12 stories in the publication.. Website: https://data360.worldbank.org/en/atlas - [Climate--Conflict--Vulnerability Index](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/projects/ccvi-climate-conflict-vulnerability-index): Client: German Federal Foreign Office. UI/UX design and data visualization for the Climate--Conflict--Vulnerability Index (CCVI), commissioned by the German Federal Foreign Office. An interactive tool combining climate hazard, conflict exposure, and vulnerability data into a globally comparable, quarterly-updated decision-support instrument for policymakers and researchers.. Website: https://climate-conflict.org - [State of the Fossil-Free Internet 2026](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/projects/fossil-free-internet-2026): Client: Green Web Foundation. Data visualisation for the Green Web Foundation's State of the Fossil-Free Internet 2026, featuring five interactive and static charts on AI energy use, data centre growth, and Big Tech's broken emissions targets.. Website: https://fossilfree.greenweb.org/2026 - [Searching for Lotte Reiniger](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/projects/search-for-lotte-reiniger): Client: BMFTR Research Group DAVIF. A scrollytelling data visualization exploring how three major film databases represent the work of pioneering filmmaker Lotte Reiniger, designed and developed solo for the BMFTR Research Group DAVIF at Philipps-Universität Marburg. The project uses interactive beeswarm and bar chart visualizations to surface missing metadata and reveal how archival choices shape film history.. Website: https://lotte-reiniger.oabooks.de/ - [Peak Spotting](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/projects/peakspotting-dashboard): Client: Deutsche Bahn AG. UX and interface design for Peak Spotting, Deutsche Bahn's train capacity forecasting tool. Built with Moritz Stefaner and Studio Nand. In use since 2017.. Website: https://www.deutschebahn.com/de/kuenstlicheintelligenz-6898594 ## Pages - [Home](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/): Christian Laesser is a freelance data visualization and UX designer based in Austria. He helps NGOs, public institutions, and corporate clients create intuitive digital tools that simplify complexity and empower users through design, prototyping, and interactive visual storytelling. - [About me](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/about): Christian Laesser is a data visualization and UX designer with 15+ years of experience. Based in Austria, he creates human-centered tools for NGOs, public institutions, and global companies, and designs the AI transparency layer organizations need for the EU AI Act. His work blends design, data, and systems thinking to make complexity accessible. - [Services](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/services): Explore services by Christian Laesser: data visualization, UX & interface design, and AI transparency design for the EU AI Act. He helps organizations design digital tools that turn complex data and AI outputs into clear, actionable experiences. - [Projects](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/projects): Discover a curated portfolio of data visualization and ux projects by Christian Laesser, from public health tools to climate indexes and visual data essays. Each project bridges design and clarity with real-world impact. ## Legal - [Imprint](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/imprint) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.christianlaesser.com/en/privacy)