Ted de Bois
Current Title: Designer, Design Lead, Graphics Editor
Organization: Trouw
Country: Denmark
Candidate for: Director
Designing the news. That’s what we do. Simple, right?
But behind these three words lies a vast world of knowledge and expertise that is easily overlooked. Visual journalism is about much more than design. It requires a deep understanding of the stories we tell, the information we work with and the people we want to reach. And it brings together people from very different disciplines. Take me, for example. I’m a biologist who uses his knowledge of science and science communication to tell visual stories. And every time I talk to a colleague in our field, I’m amazed by their story, their background and the particular talents they bring to the table.
We are a special kind of people. Some are brilliant data specialists, some can lose themselves in in-depth stories. Others are gifted illustrators. Some describe themselves as designing journalists, others as journalistic designers. I can’t think of another profession that brings together such a wide range of talents and perspectives. And I believe we need this diversity to keep improving the way we tell important stories. To me, SND feels like a home for our ‘strange bunch’. A place to find inspiration, share knowledge and learn from each other. And I would love to be part of shaping its future.
I believe there is a lot to gain from looking beyond the traditional boundaries of our profession. With my background in science and visual journalism, I believe I can bring a different perspective to the board. I’m used to leading creative projects and working with people from different disciplines. I enjoy exploring new ideas, but also figuring out how to put them into practice. I would particularly like to contribute to SND’s role in innovation and education. Our profession is changing rapidly, especially with the rise of AI. I think SND could play an important role in helping professionals explore these developments and figure out how new technologies can improve our work.
And finally, I believe there are opportunities to strengthen SND’s international network. Making its knowledge and expertise more accessible to professionals around the world would not only strengthen SND itself, but also help advance visual journalism as a whole