How to calculate urban population by country using satellite data

These days, it’s not often I get asked for my GIS/mapping skills – maybe it’s just because “making maps” aren’t as interesting now that there are so many tools at our disposal. But sometimes, just sometimes, there are some questions that a simple map with dots can’t answer. So when a request came up to … Continue reading How to calculate urban population by country using satellite data

Mapping data from Indonesia’s disaster information portal

Maps are great for decision-making (ex. where’s the nearest restaurant, how to get from point A to B)… they’re even better when you know how use them to help analyze data and information (thank you geography degree). A lot of data visualization automation software exists now that can produce charts, graphs and even maps to … Continue reading Mapping data from Indonesia’s disaster information portal

I always forget how to convert simple text strings into dates in Excel

Despite having the world’s knowledge at my finger tips (i.e. the internet), I always forget little tips on how to do things in Excel. Yes, there’s bookmarks and other different ways to save websites, but I can never find them again after I saved them! So maybe writing a blog about it might be a … Continue reading I always forget how to convert simple text strings into dates in Excel

Global Citizenship in the 21st Century. No pressure, right?

It’s really great to hear that York House School, one of the most prestigious private schools in Vancouver, puts resources towards supporting students by also emphasizing personal/mental health for students. Last year I had a great time sharing my experience with the inner workings of the United Nations with the School’s model UN class. So … Continue reading Global Citizenship in the 21st Century. No pressure, right?

What is Miriam currently wearing?

One day I got a phone call from a former workmate asking if I’d be interested in taking photos for her fashion blog. I was kind of blown away because most of my photography had been just a personal hobby and passion. Of course I tried to do something more with it a couple of … Continue reading What is Miriam currently wearing?

OCHA hosts UN Designers Group in Geneva

A few months back, I wrote about how Geneva is a melting pot of communication professionals with plenty of active groups meeting to exchange ideas, challenges, and solutions to a constantly evolving field of work. I’m proud that ITU brought together the UN (graphic) designers group late last year with an inaugural meeting in November. … Continue reading OCHA hosts UN Designers Group in Geneva

Animated gifs are more expressive than static images

Photography is a lot of fun especially now when we have so many options to capture images whether its with a phone, camera, laptop, etc. Once in a while it does get a bit monotonous especially when I’m bored of taking static images. So I’ve been experimenting with creating animated gifs. It’s not all that … Continue reading Animated gifs are more expressive than static images

Pamplona: the centre of infographics and pintxos

Last month I was in Pamplona, Spain where the world-famous running of the bulls takes place. While the bull running doesn’t show up until mid-July, the city becomes host to Malofiej, an infographics world gathering, in March. It wasn’t a surprise that infographics weren’t the first thing on the tip of people’s tongues when I … Continue reading Pamplona: the centre of infographics and pintxos

Show Don’t Tell – what I learned from Malofiej’s workshop

In March, I had to make a choice between going to Sendai, Japan for the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction or to Pamplona, Spain for the 23rd edition of Malofiej. It was a tough choice… Japan was something that I’ve been involved with and following for the past few years, while Spain … Continue reading Show Don’t Tell – what I learned from Malofiej’s workshop

Disaster graphics get bronze prize for international information design award

One of the buzz words these days is “infographics”. While these can range from just simple pie graphs to complex flowcharts, the best aren’t necessary the most “designed”. The most effective information graphics are ones that can communicate an idea or story and that can help the audience turn information into knowledge. This also means … Continue reading Disaster graphics get bronze prize for international information design award