The conference reminded me why I love information design so much. It's a field where art meets data, where complex ideas become accessible, and where there's room for both serious topics and playful experiments. But what struck me most was just how many different ways there are to tell a story with information.

So many ways to tell a story with data

The conference took place at Gooiland in Hilversum and was fantastically organised. From the venue to the food, drinks, and interpretation for the Dutch talks, everything was taken care of. But the real highlight was, of course, the speakers.

Each keynote offered a different perspective on information design. Nadieh Bremer took us behind the scenes of her project Searching for Birds, showing how she combines illustration and data. Julie Brunet demonstrated how data can take physical form through textiles, using the IUCN Red List as inspiration.

Jan Schochow explored how AI can be used in his work and introduced Scrolly, a new app for telling data stories. Yuri Veerman showed how public spaces can become places for conversations about social, environmental, and political issues. And if you love maps like I do, James Cheshire's talk was an absolute treat!

Jen Christiansen shared insights from her years at Scientific American, giving us plenty of food for thought about discovery and design. Viola Bernacchi inspired me with a project combining technology, data, and physical spaces.

What I loved most was seeing how differently everyone approached their work. There wasn't just one way to do information design. And that got me thinking.

Four things I took away from the conference

1. Information design is a field full of possibilities

From interactive infographics to data visualised on textiles, from communicating science to challenging perspectives, there's so much to explore.

For me, information design is the perfect combination of art, data, and impact. And seeing the incredible variety of projects at the conference made me even more excited about what's possible.

2. The community is just as diverse as the work

I met so many lovely people from all walks of life: science communicators, journalists, illustrators, architects, dashboard designers, graphic designers, and creative directors.

Everyone brought their own perspective and expertise. It was refreshing to meet so many people who approach information in different ways, yet share a common curiosity about how we communicate it.

3. Infographics don't always have to be serious

Information design often helps us make complex social or environmental topics easier to understand. And that's important. But it doesn't always have to be about solving the world's problems!

You can visualise how much coffee you drink in a week or how many books you've read. You can experiment with data simply because you're curious or because it's fun. Not everything has to be groundbreaking or serious.

Sometimes, playing around with an idea is enough. And who knows where it might lead?

4. Data people are not your typical nerds

There's a stereotype that people who work with data are nerdy and socially awkward. Well, this conference showed me quite the opposite!

The people I met were creative, social, curious, great storytellers, and damn smart, too. It was a lovely reminder that working with data isn't just about numbers and spreadsheets. It's also about people, ideas, creativity, and finding new ways to see the world.

Leaving with fresh inspiration

I went to the conference out of curiosity, but I came home with so much more: new ideas, new connections, and a fresh appreciation for the possibilities of information design.

If you're curious about what you can do with data, looking for inspiration, or hoping to meet people who share your interests, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

I'm already looking forward to the 20th edition in 2027!