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# Interview with Kiln's Duncan Clark
- URL: https://interhacktives.mymagic.page/interview-kilns-duncan-clark/
- Published: 2014-05-01T11:00:37.000Z
- Updated: 2014-05-01T11:00:37.000Z
- Description: Duncan Clark, founder of design studio Kiln, tells Aleksandra Wisniewska how they go about their projects
- Author: Aleksandra Wisniewska
- Tags: Data, Interviews, Data Visualisation, Duncan Clark, kiln, Robin Houston, #Migrated-1793717950415, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-11-03 14:59

![Duncan Clark Kiln.it](http://www.interhacktives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Duncan_Clark.jpg)

Photo: Kiln.it

[*Kiln*](http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fkiln.it%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFO3jJi774XNZaeLfFJvYqxo4ML0w&ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page) *is a design studio specialising in data visualisation, digital storytelling, maps and animation. It was founded and is run by* [*Duncan Clark*](http://duncanclark.net/?ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page) *and* [*Robin Houston*](https://twitter.com/robinhouston?ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page)*, creators behind such projects as* [*Women’s Rights*](http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fglobal-development%2Fng-interactive%2F2014%2Ffeb%2F04%2Fwomens-rights-country-by-country-interactive&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEbF0PVRMVOzGfMDaZmQb1H7jcX4A&ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page) *or* [*In flight*](http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2Fng-interactive%2F2014%2Faviation-100-years&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGxpyIrEFvnYKyBfnZfCvSx0go3Zw&ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page) *for the Guardian. In this short interview Duncan Clark tells Aleksandra Wisniewska how they go about their projects.*

**How do you choose what subjects to cover in your visualisations?**

It's a mix. Sometimes we have an idea that we know we want to pursue; sometimes the Guardian or another client will approach us with an idea.

**What is key for you in the process of designing information?**

One golden rule is to let the information speak for itself. There's no point making a pretty visualisation if it doesn't make the data clearer to understand and easier to interrogate.

**What is your favourite project that kiln.it worked on so far and why? What do you think makes it interesting for people to explore?**

"[In flight](http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2Fng-interactive%2F2014%2Faviation-100-years&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGxpyIrEFvnYKyBfnZfCvSx0go3Zw&ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page)" is certainly the most ambitious thing we've done so far and possibly my favourite. I like that fact that almost everyone says "wow" at seeing the sheer number of planes that have flown through the air in the last 24 hours. But I also think it's interesting as an experiment in combining different approaches to storytelling: it takes elements from documentary making, data visualisation, radio production, live mapping and tries to combine them into a coherent whole.

![in flight the guardian kiln ](http://www.interhacktives.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/in-flight.jpeg)

**What's your work process? How much leeway do you have in your work? Do you get precise instructions for your projects or do you only accept broadly defined commissions?**

It varies. Sometimes the starting point of a commission is just a broad subject area; at other times a client might have a very specific visualisation technique in mind from the outset. Most commonly, though, we're given a dataset and asked to work out how best to turn it into something compelling.

**What advice would you give to a budding data journalist?**

It depends what kind of data journalist you want to be. If you're mainly interested in breaking stories, then getting acquainted with how to get unexplored data via [Freedom of Information requests](https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fmake-a-freedom-of-information-request%2Fthe-freedom-of-information-act&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGPU6GX4WC9ubSbgIBpFvyaqTulVQ&ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page) might be a good idea. If you're more interested in interactives and visualisations then learning to code can't hurt: access to good developers is always a bottleneck for journalists, so being able to do at least some of the coding yourself is a huge advantage. Try getting started with a free HTML, CSS and JavaScript course at [Codecademy](http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.codecademy.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEqBaXcJOFHpdAH2vn-b8LFysgr4w&ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page).[](http://kiln.it/?ref=interhacktives.mymagic.page)