Chris Almaguer Data visualization design

About

Chris Almaguer

I design data visualization for people who have to make a decision from it.

At Vizient I lead visualization design for the executive dashboards U.S. hospital systems use to run their operations. I built the Figma system behind them and led the WCAG 2.1 AA study that set the color standard the team now designs to.

Before that, four years of deadline graphics for three California business journals. A published data page a week, three mastheads, deadlines that did not move. That is where I learned to make a chart carry an argument before anyone reads the caption.

I also ship software. Native macOS and iOS apps, one approved on the App Store, most of them built to answer a question I had about my own tools. It keeps me honest about what is easy to draw and what is actually hard to build.

Status
Open to senior roles, remote
Contact
calmaguer.design@gmail.com

Career

2011 - present
2022 - present

Sr. Designer, Data Intelligence & Visualization

Vizient · Remote

Fifty-plus executive dashboards for U.S. hospital systems. Built the accessibility-informed visualization design system in Figma. Led the WCAG 2.1 AA study that defined color standards for healthcare data viz. Also serving as Sr. Analytics & Insights Associate.

Contract

Visual Designer

Distributed Spectrum · Remote

Operational concept graphics and infographics for defense technology pitch decks. Naval sensor and signal intelligence scenarios turned into visual narratives. Low-poly 3D asset libraries and tactical scene compositions in Figma, built to APP-6 military symbology.

Contract

Data Visualization Designer

Civic Design Group · Remote

Executive presentations built from raw financial data. Slide systems in PowerPoint and Google Slides, plus training for project leads on maintaining the backend data themselves.

2020 - 2022

News Designer, National

American City Business Journals · Remote

After a company restructure, picked up all three California markets: San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Sacramento. Data infographics and breaking news graphics, print and digital, on deadline. Built InDesign automation for editorial production and coached junior designers across the group.

2018 - 2020

Lead Designer, Sacramento

American City Business Journals

Hired into advertising design, moved into the lead role when the editorial designers left. Ran daily and weekly design for the Sacramento Business Journal, print and digital. Data visualizations, client graphics, and 20-plus branded campaigns. Event collateral for conferences running 400-plus attendees.

2017

Graphic Artist

San Joaquin Delta College

2013 - 2017

Sr. Graphic Designer

STP Printing Inc.

2011 - 2013

Graphic Designer

ARC Document Solutions

Practice

Design

  • Data visualization
  • Dashboard and product design
  • Design systems
  • Editorial and information design
  • WCAG 2.1 accessibility

Data

  • Tableau
  • Power BI
  • R
  • Data storytelling
  • Executive reporting

Build

  • Figma
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • HTML / CSS / JavaScript
  • SwiftUI
  • Local LLMs, Ollama
  • VS Code

Also

  • Adobe Creative Ambassador, five years
  • BA Art, San Francisco State University
  • AA Humanities, San Joaquin Delta College
  • Business Leadership, McKinsey
  • Team Leadership, McKinsey
  • Shipped on the App Store

Contact

calmaguer.design@gmail.com

Open to senior roles, remote.