Measuring Berlin: An infographics book about a city told through numbers
"Die Vermessung Berlins" — An Infographic Book
Year: 2024
Context: Co-authored infographics book published by BeBra Verlag, exploring hidden data narratives that shape everyday life in Berlin.
My role: Co-author, Art Director, and Lead Designer. I defined the creative concept, developed the design system, and designed all data visualizations in close collaboration with the research lead Hans Christian Müller.
Project type: Infographics book · Data visualization · Editorial design
Why this project existed
Berlin is one of the most written-about cities in Europe, yet many of the patterns that define daily life remain buried in raw, fragmented data. The goal of this project was to uncover and translate those invisible structures into clear, engaging visual stories.
What I was responsible for
I was accountable for the overall visual language of the book, from concept to execution, ensuring consistency, clarity, and narrative coherence across all infographics.
- Creative direction and visual concept
- Design system and layout logic
- Data visualization and illustration
- Visual storytelling across the full publication
A key decision that shaped the outcome
I chose to pair rigorous data visualization with a playful visual tone, using a recurring teddy bear motif as a symbolic anchor to make complex information approachable without compromising analytical precision.
What was delivered and why it mattered
Deliverables
- 50 original data visualizations
- A complete editorial design system
- A 128-page printed book
Impact
- Published nationally by BeBra Verlag in October 2024
- Made complex urban data accessible to a broad, non-expert audience
- Demonstrated how narrative-driven data design can balance precision and emotional engagement
What I took away from this project
This project reinforced my belief that strong visual systems are not about decoration but about accelerating understanding. Carefully crafted data design can turn abstract numbers into stories people actually want to explore.
A human note
Hiding a small teddy bear in every infographic became a quiet game for readers and a reminder for us as designers: even when working with serious data, curiosity and joy can coexist with rigor — much like Berlin itself.
Website & Online-Shop: Die Vermessung Berlins
