# Moritz Stefaner — Truth & Beauty

> As a self-employed 'Truth and Beauty Operator', Moritz Stefaner keeps chasing the perfect shape for information. With a background in Cognitive Science and Interface Design, his work balances analytical and aesthetic aspects in mapping complex phenomena to support data-driven decision making. He has helped clients such as the WHO, OECD, Google News Initiative, Salesforce, the World Economic Forum, Deutsche Bahn and the Max Planck Research Society, is the record winner of the Information is Beautiful Awards, and co-hosted the Data Stories podcast.

This file indexes Moritz Stefaner's work for AI agents and search engines. Links are canonical pages on https://truth-and-beauty.net unless marked "Live" (the running project) or otherwise noted. Contact: moritz@stefaner.eu.

## Selected projects

- [A Hidden Infrastructure](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/spun-a-hidden-infrastructure): Interactive 3D globe and long-form data narrative mapping Earth's underground mycorrhizal fungal networks at 1 km² resolution (2026). Live: https://a-hidden-infrastructure.spun.earth/
- [Climate—Conflict—Vulnerability Index](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/ccvi): Mapping the overlap of climate and conflict risks; launched by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at BCSC 2024 (2022). Live: https://climate-conflict.org
- [WHO Data Design Language](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/who): Data design language for data.who.int — building blocks for rich, accessible, equitable public-health data experiences (2021). Live: https://data.who.int
- [Impfdashboard](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/impfdashboard): The official German COVID-19 vaccination dashboard; a mobile-first benchmark for governmental data communication (2021). Live: https://impfdashboard.de
- [Peak Spotting](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/peakspotting): Visual analytics and machine learning to manage passenger loads in the German rail network (2017).
- [OECD Better Life Index](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/oecd-better-life-index): Comparing well-being beyond GDP; launched for the OECD's 50th anniversary and widely regarded as seminal (2010). Live: http://oecdbetterlifeindex.org
- [Perpetual Plastic](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/perpetual-plastic): A 14m/46ft data sculpture made from beach debris showing the fate of all plastic ever produced (2019). Live: https://perpetual-plastic.net
- [The Rhythm of Food](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/the-rhythm-of-food): Food seasonality from twelve years of Google search data (2016). Live: http://rhythm-of-food.net
- [Project Ukko](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/ukko): Seasonal wind-speed predictions for the wind-energy sector; the climate-services data-visualization strand of the EU EUPORIAS project, with FutureEverything as design lead (2015). Live: http://project-ukko.net
- [ON BROADWAY](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/on-broadway): Interactive installation portraying life along the 13 miles of Broadway, Manhattan (2014). Live: http://on-broadway.nyc
- [Selfiecity](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/selfiecity): Interdisciplinary study of the selfie phenomenon; creative lead for design, visualization and analysis (2014). Live: http://selfiecity.net

## More projects

- [State of Neuroscience](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/state-of-neuroscience): Mapping ~350,000 neuroscience publications into a semantic concept landscape (2025). Live: https://stateofneuroscience.thetransmitter.org/
- [Lilienthal Solargraphy](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/solargraphy): Autographic, data-less solargraphy images recorded with pinhole cameras over six months (2022).
- [Climate & Conflict Analysis](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/climate-and-conflict-2022): Visual explanation of the relationship between climate change and violent conflict (2022).
- [Waves of Interest](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/waves-of-interest): Google Search interest across U.S. election years (2020). Live: https://waves-of-interest.truth-and-beauty.net/
- [Einstein Designer / Deep Learning UX](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/sf-dlux): Generative, personalized design at scale: analysis, visualization and synthesis of design features (2020).
- [The Language of Science](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/sciam-175-word-trends): Language shifts across 175 years (5,107 issues) of Scientific American (2020). Live: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/explore-175-years-of-words-in-scientific-american/
- [GROW Soil Moisture Maps](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/grow): Soil-moisture models combining sensor and satellite data for agriculture and climate forecasting (2018). Live: https://web.archive.org/web/20191016194202/http://soilmoisturemaps.growobservatory.org/
- [Under the Sun](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/under-the-sun): A 24-hour trip around the world following the sun's zenith (2018). Live: http://projects.truth-and-beauty.net/under-the-sun/
- [Multiplicity](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/multiplicity): A collective photographic portrait of Paris using machine learning (2018).
- [Wahl 2Q17](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/wahl-2q17): Google Trends search interest in the German federal election 2017 (2017). Live: http://2q17.de
- [EPFL Data Monolith](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/epfl-data-monolith): Immersive data perspective on university life (2016).
- [-ach, -ingen, -zell](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/achingenzell): Visual exploration of spatial patterns in German place-name endings (2016). Live: http://truth-and-beauty.net/experiments/ach-ingen-zell/
- [Open Systems Wall Display](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/open-systems-wall-display): Real-time, large-scale visualization of network-security situations (2015). Live: https://www.open.ch/
- [Excellence Networks](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/mpg-excellence-networks): How successful research institutions collaborate; based on research with Bornmann, Mutz, de Moya Anegón (2015). Live: http://excellence-networks.net/
- [Max Planck Research magazine](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/mpg-graphics): Double-spread data graphics explaining cutting-edge research (2015). Live: http://www.mpg.de/mpresearch
- [False Positive](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/false-positive): Surveillance-themed street intervention and data visualization (2015). Live: http://false-positive.net/
- [Visual Funding Portfolios](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/visual-funding-portfolios): Comparison of science-funding profiles of funders and institutions (2014). Live: http://www.uberresearch.com/visual-portfolios/
- [OECD Regional Well-Being](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/oecd-regional-wellbeing): Well-being across 300+ regions worldwide (2014). Live: http://oecdregionalwellbeing.org
- [OECD Data Portal](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/oecd-data-portal): Data visualization strategy and design for the OECD data portal (2014). Live: http://data.oecd.org
- [Wahlland](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/wahlland): A new kind of election map ('Electionland') for the 2013 German Bundestag elections (2013). Live: http://projects.truth-and-beauty.net/wahlland/
- [Where the wild bees are](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/wild-bees): Bee-population change over 120 years (2013). Live: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-the-wild-bees-are/
- [Global trade flows](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/citi-trade-flows): Mid-term economic trends in global trade (2013).
- [Stadtbilder](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/stadtbilder): Mapping the digital shape of cities (2013). Live: https://web.archive.org/web/20260130031547/http://www.stadt-bilder.com/
- [Max Planck Research Networks](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/max-planck-research-networks): Multi-touch installation on Max Planck institutes' collaborations, at the Max Planck Science Gallery, Berlin (2012). Live: https://web.archive.org/web/20250810125825/http://max-planck-research-networks.net/
- [FIFA Development Globe](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/fifa-development-globe): Geometric globe presenting FIFA's worldwide development activities (2012). Live: https://web.archive.org/web/20200513121032/http://devglobe.fifa.com/
- [Müsli Ingredient Network](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/muesli-ingredient-network): Analysis of custom muesli mixtures (2012).
- [Remixing Rosling](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/remixing-rosling): Gapminder-style remixes for an interview with Hans Rosling (2012). Live: https://web.archive.org/web/20240523012931/https://issuu.com/thinkquarterly/docs/01-data
- [emoto](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/emoto): Emotional online response to London 2012 on Twitter: interactive visualization plus physical data sculpture (2012). Live: http://emoto2012.org
- [RESONET](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/resonet): Mapping the Twitter community around the resonate festival (2012).
- [Data Cuisine](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/data-cuisine): Food as a medium for data expression ('edible diagrams'); ongoing workshops since 2012 (2012). Live: http://data-cuisine.net
- [Mapping scientific excellence (excellencemapping.net)](http://excellencemapping.net): Web application to browse and explore which institutions publish the most excellent papers across science subject areas. With Lutz Bornmann, Rüdiger Mutz, Félix de Moya Anegón (2012).
- [WEF Global Risks Report & Transformation Maps](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/WEF): Long-running information-graphics and data-visualization work for the WEF — the annual Global Risks Report (2015–2021), Transformation Maps, the Inclusive Growth Report and the Global Competitiveness Index (2011).
- [Notabilia](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/notabilia): Visualizing the longest deletion discussions on Wikipedia (2011). Live: http://notabilia.net
- [revisit](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/revisit): Real-time visualization of Twitter conversations around a topic (2011).
- [Skype UX maps](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/skype-ux-maps/): User-experience and information maps developed for Skype (2011).
- [Map your moves](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/map-your-moves): 4,000+ moves by 1,700 New Yorkers from a WNYC survey (2010). Live: https://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/map%20your%20moves/
- [Well-formed Eigenfactor](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/well-formed-eigenfactor): Visualizing information flow between scientific journals; exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2009 (2009). Live: http://well-formed.eigenfactor.org
- [X by Y](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/x-by-y/): An information-aesthetic exploration of the Ars Electronica archives ('The Design of X by Y') (2009).
- [mæve](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/mace): Interactive tabletop installation connecting the EveryVille competition and MACE content; shown at the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2008 (2008).
- [Content Landscape](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/content-landscape/): Faceted browsing for knowledge management in the enterprise (2008).
- [Elastic timeline](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/misc/): A fish-eye distorted timeline designed and developed for the Swiss news programme Tagesschau (2008).
- [MACE](https://truth-and-beauty.net/projects/mace): Pan-European initiative interconnecting digital information about architecture; UI and data visualization design (as research assistant at FH Potsdam) (2007). Live: https://web.archive.org/web/20231118133626/http://portal.mace-project.eu/
- [Elastic Lists](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/elastic-lists/): Interface technique and demos for faceted browsing of multi-dimensional data (2007).
- [Relation Browser](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/relation-browser/): Early interactive tool for exploring relationships between items; licensed to and adapted for clients including Sony, Talis, Siderean Software, Lijit Networks, NSPCC and Smartlogic (2006).
- [feelSpace](https://web.archive.org/web/20190130213626/http://feelspace.cogsci.uni-osnabrueck.de/): Study project developing a haptic compass worn as a belt, evaluating its long-term effects. Role: logo & website design, planning & organization, background research (2005).
- [RAFT](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/misc/): Interaction design and information architecture for the EU project RAFT; implemented a system prototype in Flash / FlashComm (2004).
- [Organic link network](http://archive.stefaner.eu/projects/misc/): Moritz's first interactive visualization, built for an early version of his personal website; a focus-and-context navigation demo (2003).
- [Crystal Racer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjz_fpUc7Sg): Promotional Flash action game for ZEUS insurance, produced at neteye: a 'Save the World' hoverboard platformer with prizes including a Vespa and a PlayStation 2. Moritz was production leader (2001).

## Talks and keynotes

129+ talks, including keynotes at Eurovis, OpenVisConf, VIZBI, IEEE VIS and the European Communication Summit. Full list: https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks

- [Beautiful Insights — The Art and Science of Data Communication](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/ieee-vis-keynote) [Keynote] — VISCOMM workshop at IEEE VIS (2025).
- [The Art and Science of Data Visualization](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/eurovis) [Keynote] — Eurovis (2022).
- [Visual Rhetorics / Data Art for Climate Action](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/daca) [Talk] — DACA 2022 (2022).
- [Behind the scenes: how we designed the official German COVID-19 vaccination dashboard](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/encore) [Talk] — SHOW conference (2021).
- [The art and science of data visualization](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/keynote-at-vizbi-2019) [Keynote] — VIZBI (2019).
- [dataviz : ecologies](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/eyeo-2019) [Talk] — eyeo festival (2019).
- [Macarons and Catacombs](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/openvisconf-2018) [Keynote] — OpenVisConf (2018).
- [Beyond the bar chart](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/gurus-bi) [Keynote] — Gurus of BI (2014).
- [Finding Truth & Beauty in Data](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/talks/ecs) [Keynote] — European Communication Summit (2013).

## Awards

Record winner of the Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards (11+ wins, 4 Golds), plus Malofiej, Fast Company Innovation by Design and a National Geographic Ocean Plastic Gold. Full list: https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards

- [Malofiej Award — Silver](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/malofiej-2021): The Language of Science — Pamplona, Spain (2021).
- [Fast Company Innovation by Design — Finalist (Data Design) & Honorable Mention (General Excellence)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/fastco-design): Einstein Designer — New York (2020).
- [National Geographic Ocean Plastic Innovation Challenge — Gold](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/national-geographic-ocean-plastic-innovation-challenge): Perpetual Plastic — Washington, DC (2019).
- [Information is Beautiful Awards — Gold (Unusual)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/information-is-beautiful-awards-2018): Multiplicity — New York (2018).
- [Information is Beautiful Awards — Gold (Sports, Games & Leisure)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/information-is-beautiful-awards-2017): The Rhythm of Food — London (2017).
- [Information is Beautiful Awards — Gold (Data Project)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/information-is-beautiful-awards-2016): Data Cuisine — London (2016).
- [Information is Beautiful Awards — Outstanding Individual](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/information-is-beautiful-awards-2016): Special recognition — London (2016).
- [Information is Beautiful Awards — Gold (website)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/awards/iib-2014): Selfiecity (2014).

## Exhibitions

Exhibited at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, SIGGRAPH, Ars Electronica, Somerset House (Big Bang Data), Fondation EDF, the Max Planck Science Gallery and Places & Spaces. Full list: https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/exhibitions

- [Mapping the Archive (Prix Ars Electronica), MACE Classification Tree, Visual Funding Portfolios, The Rhythm of Food, Excellence Networks](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/exhibitions/rhythm-of-food-at-places-spaces): Places & Spaces (travelling, 375+ venues, 28 countries) (2018).
- [123 data (Project Ukko, On Broadway, Selfiecity, Data Cuisine, Multiplicity)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/exhibitions/123-data): Fondation EDF — Paris, France (2018).
- [Selfiecity (London edition)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/exhibitions/big-bang-data): Big Bang Data, Somerset House — London, UK (2015).
- [False Positive](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/exhibitions/false-positive-exhibitions): Ars Electronica — Linz (2015).
- [Max Planck Research Networks](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/exhibitions/mpg-science-gallery): Max Planck Science Gallery — Berlin, Germany (2012).
- [Well-formed Eigenfactor](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/exhibitions/siggraph-09): SIGGRAPH 2009 — Information Aesthetics Showcase — New Orleans, USA (2009).

## Writing

- [There be dragons: dataviz in the industry](https://medium.com/visualizing-the-field/there-be-dragons-dataviz-in-the-industry-652e712394a0) — Medium / Visualizing the Field (2017).
- [Little boxes](https://medium.com/@moritz_stefaner/little-boxes-f19ea00435a8) — Medium (2016).
- [Worlds, not stories](https://medium.com/@moritz_stefaner/well-formed-data-worlds-not-stories-83d2da54c2d3) — Medium (2014).
- [A Practitioner's Perspective on the How, What and Why of Data Visualization (interview with David Bihanic)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media/new-challenges-for-data-design) — New Challenges for Data Design, Springer (2014).
- [Propositional density in visualization](https://medium.com/@moritz_stefaner/propositional-density-in-visualization-ca4168045dfc) — Medium (2010).

## Selected media coverage

Featured by Bloomberg, Fast Company, WIRED, Deutsche Welle, Der Spiegel, the BBC World Service, TASCHEN and Thames & Hudson. Full list: https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media

- [Design und Künstliche Intelligenz (book chapter)](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media/design-und-ki) [Text contribution]: Einstein Designer (2023).
- [Fast Company — The Data Viz That's Helping Transform A $45 Billion Company](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media/fastco-peakspotting) [Coverage]: Peak Spotting / Deutsche Bahn (2017).
- [New Challenges for Data Design (Springer) — full-chapter interview](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media/new-challenges-for-data-design) [Text contribution] (2014).
- [Best American Infographics 2014](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media/best-american) [Featured project]: Where the Wild Bees Are (2014).
- [La Lettura — 10 people to watch in data visualization](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media/la-lettura) [Coverage] (2013).
- [The Functional Art (Alberto Cairo) — long interview](https://truth-and-beauty.net/appearances/in-the-media/functional-art) [Interview] (2012).

## Selected academic publications

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.de/citations?user=JkhZL8QAAAAJ (h-index 14, 1100+ citations).

- [Narrative design patterns for data-driven storytelling (2018)](https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315281575-5): Data-Driven Storytelling, 107–133 — 144 citations.
- [Introducing design in the development of effective climate services (2018)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2017.06.002): Climate Services 9, 111–121 — 99 citations.
- [Excellence networks in science: A web-based application based on Bayesian multilevel logistic regression (BMLR) for the identification of institutions collaborating successfully (2016)](https://arxiv.org/abs/1508.03950): Journal of Informetrics 10(1), 312–327 — 33 citations.
- [Process and Progress: A Practitioner's Perspective on the How, What and Why of Data Visualization (2015)](https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4471-6596-5): New Challenges for Data Design, 391–404, Springer — 2 citations.
- [Information visualisation for science and policy: engaging users and avoiding bias (2014)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.01.003): Trends in Ecology & Evolution 29(3), 148–157 — 183 citations.
- [Elastic lists for facet browsing and resource analysis in the enterprise (2008)](https://doi.org/10.1109/DEXA.2008.108): 19th International Workshop on Database and Expert Systems Applications (DEXA) — 35 citations.
- [MACE — enriching architectural learning objects for experience multiplication (2007)](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75195-3_23): EC-TEL 2007, 322–336, Springer — 109 citations.

## Podcast

- [Data Stories](https://datastori.es): Self-produced, independent data-visualization podcast with over 2.7 million episode downloads. Initiator & co-host (with Enrico Bertini), 2012–2023.

## About and contact

- [About Moritz Stefaner](https://truth-and-beauty.net/about): background, bio, photos and downloads.
- Email: moritz@stefaner.eu
- Location: Lilienthal, Germany

## Optional

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/moritzstefaner/)
- [Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.de/citations?user=JkhZL8QAAAAJ)
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moritz_Stefaner)
- [Wikipedia (German)](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moritz_Stefaner)
- [Wikipedia (Arabic)](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B2_%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B1)
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Moritz_Stefaner)