The Lived Data Collective

Welcome to the Lived Data Collective!

We are a research group at the University of Maryland, College Park, led by Dr. Keke Wu. We explore how visualization can reconnect data with human experience, designing new representations and interactive systems that make data more accessible, expressive, and meaningful. We believe that grounding data in people's lives, communities, and experiences can foster understanding, reflection, and action. Drawing on visualization, accessibility, and human-centered computing, we investigate new ways of understanding, experiencing, and engaging with data.

News & Updates

What’s happening now

Sep 2026

Award

A viewer responding emotionally to a data visualization

Best Short Paper Award at IEEE VIS Award

“Made to Feel” received a Best Short Paper Award at IEEE VIS 2026.

Aug 2026

People

Portrait of Maggie Xu

Welcome, Maggie! New

Maggie Xu joins UMD as a PhD researcher.

Aug 2026

Publication

Data Characters artwork

Accepted to IEEE VIS Posters New

“Data Characters” was accepted to IEEE VIS Posters.