In an era where attention is scarce and visuals drive engagement, the design of your research matters more than ever. This lecture explores how effective visualization, and thoughtful design can extend the reach of your work beyond academic journals — shaping public discourse, increasing your citations, and even landing you jobs. Whether you’re crafting a policy brief, building a research website, or presenting at a conference, how your work looks can determine how far it goes. Learn practical strategies and see compelling examples of how scholars use design not just to inform, but to influence.

Mark G. Sheppard is a research assistant with the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality. Sheppard is also a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. National Guard and previously served as a policy analyst in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, California State Senate, and several local municipalities. A scholar of inequality and economic mobility, Sheppard is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics at the CUNY Graduate Center. His work leverages data visualization to translate complex policy and economic insights for broader audiences—a skill he developed during his time in public service and has continued to refine in graduate research. He holds a B.A. in Honors Legal Studies with a minor in Public Policy from U.C. Berkeley, an M.A. in Political Economy from Georgetown University, and an M.P.P. from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.