Carissa
Carter
Making sense of maps, data, and the designed world
About
I’m the Academic Director at Stanford’s d.school, where I shape how we teach design in an age of AI, climate chaos, and rapid technological transformation.
As a geoscientist-turned-designer, I bring a unique perspective to data visualization, maps, and making sense of complex information. My work explores how design shapes our world—and how we can be more intentional about what we create.
Whether designing with AI, mapping data stories, or reimagining education, I’m committed to helping people become more intentional designers of our shared future.
I speak and lead interactive workshops for groups within and beyond academia. Please reach out via the d.school for any media inquiries.
Books
Assembling Tomorrow
Assembling Tomorrow explores the forces that prevent us from anticipating just how fantastically technology can get out of control, and what might be in store for us if we don’t start using new tools and tactics.
From the effects of social media to the uncertainty of AI and the consequences of climate change, the unpredictable outcomes of our creations ripple across our lives. Time and again, our seemingly ceaseless capacity to create rubs up against our limited capacity to understand our impact.
Interspersed with speculative fiction and hand-drawn illustrations by Armando Veve, Assembling Tomorrow is a beautiful guide for anyone who cares about the world we live in.
The Secret Language of Maps
Maps, data and infographics help us make sense of the world…but this is not your average book about data visualization. In this book, you’ll unravel a murder mystery to pull back the curtain on the features inherent in all maps and infographics, and use them to solve the crime.
Employing an incredibly engaging approach, this practical guide not only teaches you how to read and design maps, but it also gives you the tools to interpret the daily infographics you see in the news, in business, and literally everywhere. After reading this book, you’ll look for the agenda behind every map and the hidden messages lurking within data in a world full of misinformation.