Arlene Birt

Arlene Birt is an Associate Professor of Creative Entrepreneurship at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). She holds an MDes from Design Academy Eindhoven and a BS from MCAD. Her work bridges scientific data and public understanding through visual storytelling, specializing in sustainability and climate communication.

• Founder of Background Stories, a consultancy translating complex systems into accessible visuals.
• Graphics Officer for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), co-creating impactful figures for global reports.
• Recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and Visiting Fellowship at Seoul National University.

Research focuses on making climate data emotionally resonant via visual design, integrating behavioral psychology principles. Her work appears in the Washington Post, Financial Times, and books like New Challenges for Data Design.

Key achievements include a widely shared IPCC visualization linking global temperature rise to personal timelines of different generations. She advocates for creative professionals' roles in driving climate action through compelling narratives.