The series infographics were influenced by W.E.B. Du Bois’ data portraits from the turn of the 20th century. The power of Du Bois’ work comes from his unique and often mischievous way of approaching visualizations. The standard conventions of bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs are subverted through the innovative use of unexpected angles, unruly lines, and playful color combinations.

While the time-based medium of television necessitated a more straightforward approach, we used animation and carefully considered, thematically relevant textures to create subtle layers of context and moments of surprise.

We chose two typefaces from Vocal Type for the series. Each Vocal Type typeface highlights a piece of history from a specific underrepresented race, ethnicity, or gender — from the Women’s Suffrage Movement in Argentina to the Civil Rights Movement in America.

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Bayard is a unique sans-serif typeface inspired by signs from the 1963 March On Washington For Jobs and Freedom.

Bayard Rustin was a close advisor to Martin Luther King and one of the most influential and effective organizers of the civil rights movement, leading a number of protests in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, as well as a public advocate on behalf of gay and lesbian causes during the 1980s.

The font has a soft but commanding presence.

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W.E.B. Du Bois was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer, and editor. After completing graduate work at the University of Berlin and Harvard, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate, he became a professor of history, sociology, and economics at Atlanta University.

The DU BOIS typeface is inspired by the lettering in Du Bois’ data portraits, which visualized Black America at the turn of the 20th century.

The font is stylish, confident, and unique.