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Visualizing Science transforms complex concepts into visuals that can be understood “at a glance.”

Founded by Fiona Martin in 2005, Visualizing Science partners with authors, publishers, news outlets, gov’t agencies, and communication teams to deliver high-impact science illustrations, data visualizations, maps, and graphic design. Each project is crafted to clarify abstract or complex information, and engage diverse audiences through thoughtful visual storytelling.

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CRIME IN SEATTLE
A map shows that nearly 2,000 fewer offenses were reported to police in downtown Seattle and 642 fewer in the Chinatown International District, in 2025 compared to 2018. Crime rose in neighboring areas, notably Capitol Hill, First Hill and South Lake Union. Source: Seattle Police Department records starting in 2018. Data analysis by Manuel Villa (Map by Fiona Martin / The Seattle Times)
CRIME IN SEATTLE
LONGVIEW PULP MILL DISASTER
LONGVIEW PULP MILL DISASTER
FUSION ENERGY
Helion's fusion might power Microsoft data centers
FUSION ENERGY
PINK SALMON BOOM
PINK SALMON BOOM
ICE ARRESTS BY SEATTLE FIELD OFFICE
Multi-chart graphic showing that several northwest counties and municipalities saw a sharp increase in ICE arrests following the start of President Trump's second term, including King, Clark, Whatcom, and Yakima Counties in Washington; Multnomah, Marion, and Washington Counties in Oregon, and Anchorage municipality.
ICE ARRESTS BY SEATTLE FIELD OFFICE
HOW FORESTS CAPTURE CARBON
Illustration: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into sugars, using the food to grow. This process, called photosynthesis, allows plants to make their own food, storing the carbon in their tissues as they grow roots, branches and leaves. In this way, forests help fight climate change by absorbing and storing carbon pollution that is heating the planet. Big trees store the most carbon because of their mass, and long-lived species such as Douglas fir and red cedar can lock carbon away for centuries. Trees absorb carbon dioxide gas through openings in leaves or needles called stomata. Chloroplasts within leaves and needles use the energy of the sun to split water molecules drawn up through tree roots into hydrogen and oxygen, released through their stomata. Trees and other green plants create the air we breathe, and shelter and nourish life as we know it.
HOW FORESTS CAPTURE CARBON
LIFE AFTER THE OSO LANDSLIDE
LIFE AFTER THE OSO LANDSLIDE
WHO ARE THE ZIZIANS?
WHO ARE THE ZIZIANS?
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER FLOODING
Map of Skagit River 100-year floodplain. During atmospheric river flooding in Dec. 2025, evacuation orders were issued for the entire floodplain. Sources: FEMA, Esri. (Map by Fiona Martin / The Seattle Times)
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER FLOODING
GEOLOGY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN
Geologist Nick Zentner inspects a roadside cut near Granger, Washington. He is standing on cobbles transported by the ancient Columbia River. The vertical wall is composed of ice age flood deposits and windblown loess—ideal for growing crops like grapes and wheat. (Illustration by Fiona Martin / The Seattle Times)
GEOLOGY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN
BEAR GULCH FIRE
Map of Bear Gulch Fire on August 22, 2025
BEAR GULCH FIRE
ELECTION AND POLITICAL GRAPHICS
ELECTION AND POLITICAL GRAPHICS
URBAN BARRIERS TO SALMON
A screen recording shows how readers can follow a salmon's journey while scrolling down an urban stream, encountering various barriers on the way. (Illustrations by Fiona Martin / The Seattle Times)
URBAN BARRIERS TO SALMON
ICE ARRESTS, DETENTIONS, AND DEPORTATIONS
A map shows percentages of ICE arrests with no criminal history, state by state.
ICE ARRESTS, DETENTIONS, AND DEPORTATIONS
HOW HEAT PUMPS WORK
HOW HEAT PUMPS WORK
NOAA CLIMATE REPORT
Illustration of young students and adults viewing a 3D globe map of a marine heat wave with elevated sea surface temperatures. Illustration created for an NOAA climate report by Fiona Martin / Visualizing Science.
NOAA CLIMATE REPORT
ARE SPIT HOODS SAFE?
Illustration of patient in a spit hood, screaming. Dark blue background abstract green paint.
ARE SPIT HOODS SAFE?
FENTANYL
FENTANYL
MEASLES OUTBREAK RESPONSE
An infographic shows how even one measles case can trigger an immense amount of work for public health teams, including making hundreds of contact-tracing calls, running emergency trainings, tracking data, testing people and communicating with the public. At the Snohomish County Health Department, which is responding to an ongoing measles outbreak, it’s taken a lot of team coordination.
MEASLES OUTBREAK RESPONSE
ANNUAL REVIEWS: BIOLOGY
Processes that eventually can lead to the eradication of chemotherapy-resistant tumor cells. Rendered in Adobe Illustrator. Published in Kroemer et al. (2013) in the Annual Review of Immunology v31. Illustration by Fiona Martin. © Annual Reviews.
ANNUAL REVIEWS: BIOLOGY
NOAA & NIDIS CLIMATE REPORTS
Samples from the 2015 and 2016 NOAA Climate Program Office Annual Reports (Design, photo selection, and graphics by Fiona Martin / Visualizing Science.)
NOAA & NIDIS CLIMATE REPORTS
SOUTHWEST DROUGHT FORUM
SOUTHWEST DROUGHT FORUM
RESTORATION ECONOMY
RESTORATION ECONOMY
SOIL MOISTURE
Poster: The role of soil moisture in water, energy and carbon cycles
SOIL MOISTURE
A GLACIER IN RETREAT
Illustration of Emmons Glacier with labeled features, including what causes the glacier to gain or lose mass. (Fiona Martin / The Seattle Times)
A GLACIER IN RETREAT
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES
CULTURALLY MODIFIED TREES
GREEN GOLD
GREEN GOLD
PUGET SOUND’S UNDERWATER FORESTS
Illustration of bull kelp
PUGET SOUND’S UNDERWATER FORESTS
HUMPBACK WHALES REBOUND
HUMPBACK WHALES REBOUND
CORAL REEFS
Illustration of lion fish
CORAL REEFS
THE POWER OF A LOGJAM
THE POWER OF A LOGJAM
ADAPTIVE RIDING
Painting of Jason, Belgian draft/quarter horse Malakai, and his adaptive riding team.
ADAPTIVE RIDING
ISLAND MARBLE BUTTERFLY
ISLAND MARBLE BUTTERFLY
COASTAL UPWELLING
COASTAL UPWELLING
UNDERWATER TRAIL
UNDERWATER TRAIL
JEFFREY PINE CONE
JEFFREY PINE CONE
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