MY STORYI am a Chilean-American graphic designer, illustrator, data visualist, and educator whose work focuses on social justice and representation. My design company Leclerc advocates that agencies create work that is reflective of the communities they serve. This means designing for an audience that is diverse in identity, gender, race, ethnicity, and ability. I formerly served as Creative Director at Sawyer Agency, a full-service studio that designs visuals that are aesthetically pleasing, effective and impactful.
Social equity, inclusion, and activism are major aspects of my work. I have developed design and data visualization for activist organizations like Yale’s Justice Collaboratory, Be a Hero, and Sage Works Productions, which was founded by Stacey Abrams. In 2016, I led the data visualization and design of Campaign Zero’s Police Union Contracts report. The organization’s data-based approach to activism is the subject of a new documentary, Making of an Activist on Hulu and Disney +. In 2017, I created the data visualization for Elizabeth Warren’s book, This Fight is Our Fight. In 2019, on behalf of Campaign Zero, I led the data visualization for the first police scorecard in the US, which sought to identify urgent issues surrounding police accountability and propose best-practice solutions. In 2022, my work was recognized by Latinas in Tech in partnership with Korbel California Champagne, who named her one of 30 Luminarias in the STEM fields.
Now, I pass on my passion for statistical narratives to future generations through my instruction in infographic design at Tyler School of Art in Temple University and my substack, Statistic it to ’em!
Integrating equity into my process.
My commitment to equity extends beyond the page: I am the DEI Director for the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the oldest and largest membership organization for design.
What People Are Saying
“We knew we wanted to tap into our Latinidad in a timeless, spiritual and elegant way, and she brought so many exciting ideas which proved her intuition from ideation to final design was impressively aligned with what we sought.”
–Christine Davila
Head of Development and Production, Ojalá
“Just wanted to say thank you so much for designing the Police Scorecard and making this project look so incredible! So many people have reached out saying they love the design.”
-Samuel Sinyangwe
Founder, Police Scorecard & Mapping Police Violence
“The graphs in the book presented their own challenges, since it was my hope that we could make the presentation of material both clear and interesting. Michelle LeClerc pulled that off with great skill and patiently took on countless versions and tweaks as we worked together to try to get it right.”
— Elizabeth WarrenExcerpt from “This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class” Published 2017 by Metropolitan Books
Publications
Visual Storytelling: Infographic Design in News
Liu Yikun & Dong Zhao | January 2016, featured artist
Damn Good
HOW Books | May 2012, featured artist
Card Design
Liaoning Science and Technology Publishing | December 2012, featured artist
In Effect
Promopress | December 2012, featured artist
Focus on M&T
Dopress | December 2012, featured artist
Cult Streetwear
Josh Sims | March 2010, featured artist