April 9, 2026, MI Colloquium: Creative Informatics: Projects, Practices, and Data Storytelling

What it’s about 

How can creativity strengthen the MI toolkit? This session explores how artistic methods and mindsets can be integrated into information work by expanding how we design information environments, tell data stories, and engage the public.

Key takeaways

• Artistic integration: Apply approaches like public installation and book arts to create more human-centered, life-affirming information environments.
   
• Professional value: Learn how creative informatics can help MI graduates stand out in a fast-changing tech landscape.
   
• Public dialogue: Translate complex data into accessible, creative narratives that engage and empower non-technical audiences.

About the Speaker:

Ali Motamedi is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Rutgers School of Communication and Information’s Library and Information Science department. An author, educator, and interdisciplinary artist, his work explores the intersections of visual culture, language, and digital communication, with a focus on how images, interfaces, and data-driven narratives shape collective understanding across cultural and linguistic boundaries. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and an MFA in Visual Studies (Artificial Intelligence and Technology)

Who Should Attend? 
MI students, faculty, and information professionals interested in creative methods, visualization, and data storytelling.