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Your research is complicated

Explaining it shouldn't be

WHO WE ARE
HOW WE WORK

Our team

Experts at creating emotionally-engaging content on challenging topics

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Arlene Birt

Founder & Creative Director

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Arlene Birt is a visual storyteller, speaker, educator, and public artist.

Birt aims to put data into context and help individuals emotionally connect to seemingly distant environmental concepts. An expert in information visualization and narrative visuals to communicate sustainability, Birt incorporates principles of behavioral psychology into visual communication.

As Professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) Birt teaches courses on infographics, data visualization, arts entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

As graphics officer for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Synthesis Report, Birt collaborated with 60+ climate scientists and 195 governments.

Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Financial Times, Le Monde, Creative Review (UK), U.S. News and World Report, numerous other global media, and the Barcelona Design Museum.

Birt is a Fulbright fellow and has published chapters in several books, including New Challenges for Data Design.

Birt also creates participatory, datavis-focused public artwork and holds a master’s degree from Design Academy Eindhoven (NL).

Birt runs workshops and speaks internationally.   

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Karen Lanthier

Account Services Management

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Karen Lanthier brings 8+ years of experience in project management, client services, and inter-organizational collaboration - particularly in the areas of agriculture and food systems. She brings a creative approach to outreach and is passionate about making systems tailored to users, exciting, and dynamic.
 
Outside of work, you might find Karen gardening, bird watching, cooking, or enjoying board and video games. Favorite games include ones that integrate themes of nature, beauty, and creativity, such as Stardew Valley, Wingspan, and Everdell.
 
Karen holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition Science and a Master of Science in Science, Technology, and Environmental Public Policy - both from the University of Minnesota - as well as continuing education coursework at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

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Meagan Hein

Visual Storytelling

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Meagan Hein is a graphic designer that creates data visualization, infographics, and illustration.

The intersections between science & art, freedom & restraint, and qualitative & quantitative measures are where she finds inspiration for her design work.  

She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in Graphic Design. With experience working in a cancer research lab, she switched from biology to graphic design in college because she wanted to get people as excited about science as she is. 

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Rose Lam

Visual Storytelling

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Rose Lam is a designer who creates infographics, data visuals, and publication layouts. She loves using visual communication to bridge the gap between expert and audience, especially in the realms of education, equity, and science. 

On the weekends, you might find her refereeing at LEGO robotics tournaments (in the cold months) or birdwatching from the comfort of her porch (in the warm months). Public libraries are her happy place.

Rose holds dual bachelor's degrees in Graphic Design and Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. 

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Nichole Goodwell

Creative Production

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Nichole Goodwell is an art director and designer. Her creative work is infused with the drive to foster social, environmental, and cultural innovation, and to deliver visual content that resonates.

With over 22 years of experience in strategic communications, her expertise is centered in the non-profit, small business, and social benefit sectors, focusing on sustainability, local food systems, and the arts.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media Studies from Macalester College (US), with additional training from University of Westminster’s School of Media, Arts and Design (UK).

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Lisa Blakeborough

Visual Storytelling

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Lisa Blakeborough is a graphic designer, illustrator and visual storyteller with over 15 years of experience translating complex ideas into authentic approachable visual solutions that communicate and connect. Throughout her career she has specialized in creating engaging effective design communication for wellness and sustainability brands.

Lisa is passionate about co-creating a healthier, kinder world and living in harmony with nature. She strives to use her imagination and intuition to add beauty, meaning and connection to our world through visual design.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in Landscape Architecture with continuing education at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

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Cotty Versalles

Outreach

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Cotty has vast experience in business development in cultural, conservation and sustainability-focused organizations across the country including zoos, museums and botanical gardens (to name a few). She also has a 15+ year career representing international, regional and local coffee companies and artisans, where she traveled the world following her passion for farmer stories.

A first generation Afro-Cuban American, Cotty has a passion for telling stories and is a self-published children’s book author. Cotty is fluent in Spanish and English.

Amy Lenz

Accounting

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Amy has a diverse accounting background across big and small companies. Originally from Muscatine, Iowa Amy has an active family: her free time revolves around attending diving and basketball events and someday she hopes to spend more time pursuing interests in gardening, knitting, cooking, and reading. Her dog, Lola, is a Morkie who thinks she’s a Great Dane. 

Join our Team

Become a collaborator

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We're always looking for freelance collaborators (illustrators, infographic designers, web and interactive developers, animators, writers, and more). Send your portfolio and a note expressing your interest to info@backgroundstories.com.

We are a certified women-owned infodesign consultancy that translates complex sustainability information into visual stories for non-expert audiences.

Minnesota Certified Targeted Group Business

We work with change-makers

Who work for social & environmental sustainability

Climate & Energy

Environment & Conservation

Food & Agriculture

Cities, Policy, & Government

Equity & Health

Our process is collaborative

We value your expertise

We create spaces for open dialogue in all phases of the project—from scope setting to final delivery.
Diagram showing steps of the Background Stories collaborative process. Steps are labelled Scope, Kickoff, Visual Story Development, Sketches, Digital Design, Iteration, Wrap-up
Explore Our Process

We focus on serving our clients for the long-term through retainers.

And we also work on a project-by-project basis.

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