As Graphics Editor at The New York Times, Marco Hernandez highlights infographics that go beyond visual appeal to function as strong acts of journalism. The most impactful projects of 2025 show how design can clarify complexity, evoke empathy, and deepen understanding of urgent global issues. Across leading publications, these works use innovative formats, interaction, and thoughtful editing to transform dense information into clear, engaging narratives—demonstrating the growing power of visual storytelling to explain the world.
Reuters
Scammed into scamming
https://www.reuters.com/graphics/SOUTHEASTASIA-SCAMS/mypmxwdwwvr
The composition of this piece not only captivates the viewer’s attention but also employs an unconventional format reminiscent of a comic strip. The narrative is compelling, effectively eliciting empathy for the individuals ensnared in this perilous predicament. Beautiful work to tell the horrors of abduction and scamming in a powerful way.
The New York Times
Can you stop an outbreak of a contagious disease?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/12/upshot/measles-herd-immunity-explainer.html
This piece successfully explains how quickly the dissemination of outbreaks can be under specific conditions. Unlike conventional explainers, it provides interactive simulations where you can edit the data and understand the effects in the outbreak, enabling a deeper comprehension of infectious diseases, vaccines, and related intricacies.
The Washington Post
How AI is changing 700 professions -And maybe affecting yours
https://inconsolata.com/post/792955834494779392/oficiosia
The topic is spicy and trendy. There’s an interactive version of the piece to explore some of the data, but I think the print is a great solution, great design to focus on the big picture. I think paper can make us better editors because of the nature of having limited space and this is a great example. I don’t know how this was made, but I guess they did the online first and then edited the content for the paper, that’s the editing process working well.
Volkskrant
One world, infinite projections
https://www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v/2025/wereldkaart-mercator-afrika-projecties~v1707526/
This project is exquisitely designed; every map, animation, and illustration is simply brilliant. The piece explains the details behind the distortions and biases in cartography within the framework of the African Union’s demand and initiative to promote maps that better reflect scale and proportions.
The Pudding
Threats to democracy in the Congressional Record
https://pudding.cool/2025/11/democracy/
This is a very efficient way to present data. It invites exploration of a dataset that would otherwise be too dense to present effectively.
