Nil Tuzcu is an award-winning designer and researcher working at the intersection of user experience design, research and data-driven storytelling. In her multidisciplinary practice, she translates data into engaging visual narratives to make complex political, economic, and geographical data accessible to the public. 

Originally trained as an architect at Cornell University, she attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she was trained in information technologies and urban policy. Her projects won the Silver Award at the Information is Beautiful Awards and a best data visualization award at the Digital Humanities Awards. She presented her work in academic venues such as ACM CHI and IEEE VIS. 

She is the creator of the Istanbul Urban Database, a comprehensive multimedia archive of Istanbul, which has been recognized by leading institutional organizations and media outlets. This project helps preserve the collective memory and the urban heritage of Istanbul as an open-access medium. (Read Bloomberg article)

She has spoken at numerous events and institutions, including the European Union, Harvard University, Koc University, Northeastern University, Salt Art Institute, !F International Film Festival, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Duke University.

She currently leads the user experience and information design as a Senior Designer at the Growth Lab Harvard Kennedy School, and teaches at the The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

For projects, questions, speaking arrangements please email niltuzcu@gmail.com

TALKS

  • Paper Presentation, Information+ Conference, 2023

  • Case Study Presentation, CHI 2023, 2023

  • Poster Paper Presentation, IEEE VIS 2022 Visualization for Social Impact, 2022

  • Invited Speaker, Marmara Urban Forum, Data Visualization for Urban Heritage, 2021

  • Invited Speaker, Communicating complex economic topics, EU DataViz Academy Webinars, 2021

  • Selected Speaker, Communicating complex economic topics for policymakers, EU DataViz 2019, Publication Office of the EU, Luxembourg

  • Invited Participant, Workshop - Digitally Reconstructing Islamic Print Culture Through Mustafa Salamah al-Najjari’s Book Collection, Duke University, 2019

  • Presenter, “Spatial Storytelling in Digital Scholarship”, Boston Area Digital Scholarship Symposium, Harvard University, 2019

  • Invited Speaker, "Spatial Storytelling in Urban Studies and History", Northeastern University, 2018

  • Invited Speaker, "Geospatial Visualization in History Research", Harvard University, 2018

  • Invited Speaker, "The Making of Istanbul Urban Database", Koc University ANAMED Annual Symposium, 2017.

  • Invited Speaker, "Istanbul Urban Database and Future Plans", Duke University History Department, 2017

  • Selected Ignite Talker, Digital Media and Learning Conference, University of California Irvine, 2017

  • Invited Workshop Organizer and Lecturer, "Ways of Storytelling in an Interactive World", !F Istanbul Film Festival, 2017

  • SALT Grants Presenter, "Multimedia Storytelling Platform: I am Istanbul", SALT Grants Presentations, 2016

  • Invited Speaker, "Mapping Technologies for Urban Segregation", MIT International Development House, 2016

EXHIBITIONS

  • Do-it-Yourself Visualization (DIY Viz), IEEE Viz 2019 Art Program, Vancouver, Canada (Upcoming - October 2019)

  • Migratory Paths: Traveling by Water Land and New Terrains at B4BEL4B Artist Gallery Oakland CA | Project: September 1955, Co-director & Co-Creator

  • Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative Traveling Exhibition, 2018 | Project: Urban Intermedia: City, Archive, Narrative Traveling Exhibition, Research Associate

  • Dinner in the Dark Exhibition, 2017 | Project: September 1955, Co-director & Co-Creator

  • !F Istanbul International Film Festival Virtual Reality and Interactive Storytelling Exhibition, 2017 | Project: I am Istanbul, Director & Creator

  • !F Istanbul International Film Festival Virtual Reality and Interactive Storytelling Exhibition, 2017 | Project: September 1955, Co-director & Co-Creator

  • Keller Gallery Exhibition Series, 2016 | Project: September 1955, Co-director & Co-Creator

  • MANTA: Motion Activated Neopixel Tracking Apparatus, 2016 | An Architectural Installation, Project Advisor