By Lina Hope 
By The Editorial Board
March 1, 2026
The Nightingale landscape is undergoing a significant transition this spring. Effective March 1, 2026, Teo Popescu will officially assume the role of Managing Editor for the Data Visualization Society’s (DVS) flagship publication. Popescu, a seasoned voice in the data journalism and design community, succeeds Will Careri, who concludes a highly productive two-year tenure as the publication’s chief steward. This transition signals both a continuity of the high-quality editorial standards established by the DVS and the beginning of a fresh strategic vision for the digital journal.
A Legacy of Growth: The Careri Era (2024–2026)
Will Careri’s departure marks the end of a transformative period for Nightingale. His journey with the publication began in 2022, when he joined the team as a contributing writer. During that time, he quickly distinguished himself as an insightful commentator on the intersection of design, ethics, and human experience.
Careri’s written contributions remain among the most-read and cited pieces in the journal’s history. His article, Designing for Neurodivergent Audiences, challenged the industry to reconsider accessibility beyond standard color contrast ratios, while The Visual Evolution of the Tommy Westphall Universe showcased his unique ability to apply rigorous data visualization principles to pop culture phenomena.
As Managing Editor, Careri transitioned from a high-impact contributor to a structural leader. Between 2024 and 2026, he oversaw an unprecedented period of output. Under his guidance, Nightingale published over 200 articles, collaborating with nearly 150 diverse contributors from across the global data visualization community. His editorial tenure was characterized by a push toward thematic depth, most notably seen in his oversight of three major print issues of Nightingale: Guidelines, Emotion, and Nature.
While Careri is stepping back from the day-to-day administrative rigors of the Managing Editor role, he remains deeply committed to the mission of the DVS. He plans to continue his involvement with the publication as an active editor and contributor, ensuring that his institutional knowledge and creative voice remain within the Nightingale ecosystem.
Teo Popescu: A Return to the Helm
The appointment of Teo Popescu is a natural progression for a leader deeply embedded in the DNA of Nightingale. Popescu previously served as the journal’s Content Editor from 2024 to 2025. During that period, she was instrumental in the logistical and creative execution of the publication’s print editions, taking a lead role in bringing the Nature issue to fruition.
Popescu brings an expansive professional background to the role. She currently serves as the design, graphics, and data editor at KUOW Public Radio in Seattle, Washington’s premier NPR affiliate. Her portfolio at KUOW reflects a dedication to high-stakes, public-interest journalism. Notable projects include managing the station’s Trump administration legal tracker, visualizing complex ICE arrest datasets in Washington State, and collaborating on a high-impact investigative piece with ProPublica concerning the municipal management of Seattle’s shelter funding.
Her pedagogical expertise further rounds out her qualifications. Popescu is a dedicated educator, teaching multimedia and graphics journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington. This commitment to mentorship is expected to be a hallmark of her tenure as Managing Editor, as she seeks to foster the next generation of data storytellers within the DVS community.
Bridging Media: From Print to Podcasts
Over the past year, Popescu has expanded her reach into audio storytelling with the launch of the data journalism podcast Control F. As co-host, she leads deep-dive investigations into how algorithms, research, and data assumptions shape our daily reality. This experience is expected to inform her approach to Nightingale, potentially expanding the journal’s scope into multi-modal storytelling and interactive formats.
Official Statements and Vision
In reflecting on the transition, Popescu expressed a profound sense of responsibility and excitement regarding the road ahead.
"I’m excited to come back to the Nightingale community," Popescu said in an official statement. "It’s an honor to come back in this way—to take up the mantle Will leaves behind. I’m excited to get to know everyone better and continue to foster a sense of community. I hope that with every article we publish, the love for our craft is evident on the page. It’s what keeps me coming back, and I hope it helps sustain you in these times, too."
The DVS leadership has lauded the transition, noting that Popescu’s appointment ensures that Nightingale will continue to balance its dual role as a technical resource for data professionals and a creative forum for visual thinkers.
Implications for the Future of Data Visualization
The shift in leadership comes at a pivotal moment for the field of data visualization. As AI-generated charts become ubiquitous and the demand for data literacy increases, the role of a publication like Nightingale is more critical than ever.
Expanding the Editorial Horizon
Under Popescu’s leadership, stakeholders can expect a continued focus on:
- Ethical Data Practice: Building on the foundation laid by Careri’s focus on accessibility and representation, Popescu’s background in investigative journalism suggests a push toward more robust data auditing and transparency in reporting.
- Pedagogical Growth: With her experience at UC Berkeley and the University of Washington, Popescu is well-positioned to bridge the gap between academic research and practical, industry-facing application.
- Multi-Platform Integration: Given her success with Control F, it is highly probable that Nightingale will continue to experiment with new formats for disseminating complex information, potentially integrating more audio and interactive digital components into the editorial calendar.
The Sustainability of the Craft
Popescu’s stated goal—to ensure that the "love for our craft" is evident on the page—speaks to a broader need within the community for inspiration. In an era often dominated by technical benchmarks and tool-specific discourse, Nightingale aims to remain a sanctuary for the human element of visualization. By emphasizing the narrative power of data, the incoming editor aims to maintain the publication’s status as a vital source of intellectual and professional nourishment.
A New Era of Collaboration
As of March 1, 2026, the Nightingale editorial team—now composed of Alejandra Arevalo, Brian Cort, and Teo Popescu—is fully operational. The transition represents more than just a change in personnel; it is a testament to the health and sustainability of the Data Visualization Society.
By honoring the contributions of the past while embracing the innovative potential of the future, Nightingale remains poised to lead the conversation on how we interpret, visualize, and understand the world through data. Readers, contributors, and members of the DVS are encouraged to reach out to the editorial team at Nightingale(at)Datavisualizationsociety.org as the publication embarks on this next chapter.
The story of data is constantly evolving, and under Teo Popescu’s leadership, Nightingale will undoubtedly continue to be the primary chronicler of that evolution.
Nana 
Nana Muazin 
Ammar Sabilarrohman