Support our work
The Data & Design Group at CU Boulder Information Science studies technology and society by making things. Design is both how we understand problems and how we propose alternatives—the tools and systems we build aren’t just research outputs, they’re arguments about how technology could work differently. Led by Prof. Jonathan Zong, our team of students and collaborators builds in partnership with the people our work is meant to serve.
Much of that work centers on accessibility: alongside blind and low-vision collaborators, we’ve built assistive technology like Olli, an open-source library that lets screen reader users explore data visualizations on the web, and Umwelt, a creative tool that lets blind users independently create interactive charts using sound, text, and visuals together.
A Note from Jonathan
I founded the Data & Design Group to create a collaborative and inclusive space for students to grow into interdisciplinary researchers who are equipped to respond to society’s needs.
I believe that the best way to criticize a technology is to build a better one, in partnership with the people who would benefit. When people are left out of design, the resulting systems tend to serve someone else’s interests.
Doing this kind of work takes intentionality and care: travel to meet a collaborator in person, time spent listening to people’s experiences and reflecting on how those values can be reflected in design, workshops and building trust with community partners.
Federal research funding for this kind of work is at risk right now, and your support helps us protect the conditions that make what we do possible.
What your gift supports
Your contribution helps us:
- Compensate community collaborators for their time, expertise, and partnership
- Send students to meet partners in person, attend workshops, and present their research
- Host events and gatherings that bring our community together
- Take on speculative prototypes that can grow into new research directions
- Maintain the open-source tools we share with the broader research and accessibility communities
Gifts of any size make a difference, and larger gifts let us take on work that would otherwise be out of reach.
How to give
Please use this link to make a gift in any amount that is meaningful to you:
Unrestricted gifts are made through the University of Colorado Foundation and are tax-deductible. You can give once or set up a recurring contribution.
If you’d like to talk before giving—about the lab’s direction, a specific project you’d like to support, or giving in honor of someone—please reach out. I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you for considering supporting this work. It means a lot.