Experienced designers often struggle more with the client relationship than with the craft itself. Working with climate experts is its own kind of challenge.
Here are a few examples:
They are cursed (by expertise) - Climate is a complicated science combining physics, finance and politics to name just a few. Experts may not realize this complexity after years of swimming in it. How to help them make themselves understood?
They don’t know (what they don’t know) - Sometimes, the experts didn’t even ask us for a visual, but we suggested it based on our reading of the material and their objectives, and they bought it.
They are not experts (in data visualization) - Most experts have made an attempt at visualising their charts when they come to an information designer. How to approach this? Is it useful or a hindrance?
They have no money (to waste) - Where is the money for good information design in the climate sphere? There is less than one might expect, given the urgency of the issue. How to make it work nevertheless?
As the founder of Voilà:, an information design agency focused on ESG since 2013, Francis Gagnon has had to structure design processes, to manage client collaboration and to design climate charts.
The general arc of the talk is that each side needs to do their job in full and trust the other side. This talk gives them something to bring home and change in how they work.