Javier Zarracina

Javier Zarracina

Visual Journalism Leader | Graphics, Data, and Motion Storytelling




I’m a graphics and visual storytelling leader who turns complex information into clear, engaging, trustworthy work. I have lead Graphics and Data visualization teams at The Washington Post, USA TODAY, Vox, the Los Angeles Times, and The Boston Globe, among others.


What drives me most is clarity: finding the strongest visual form for an idea and helping audiences quickly understand what matters. I lead teams, but I stay close to the craft in a fast-changing, multiplatform environment.


I bring leadership, editorial judgment, visual strategy, and hands-on execution. I help organizations communicate complex ideas clearly, sharpen storytelling, and create work that earns trust and holds attention.









What I do

INFORMATION GRAPHICS AND DATA VISUALIZATION

Cross-team leadership

Data visualization

Graphic Editing

Hands-on graphics

Cartography

Interactive graphics




I use charts, maps, diagrams, and interactives to help audiences make sense of major stories, from breaking news like the Baltimore bridge collapse, the death of Robin Williams, and Hurricane Helene to explanatory and investigative work on topics such as COVID-19 and clean energy legislation.


ILLUSTRATION & ART DIRECTION


Illustration

Art Direction 

Design


At Vox, USA TODAY, and other publications, I created, commissioned, and art directed editorial illustrations for daily coverage and larger projects.



MOTION GRAPHICS


Animation

3D graphics

Video Editing 

Social Graphics


I bring information graphics into video, using motion to make stories clearer, more informative, and more engaging across digital and social platforms.  




SELECTED WORK

A selection of visual storytelling across news, enterprise, explanatory journalism, and video.


The Washington Post

Boston Globe

USA TODAY

Wiwo illustrations

VOX

Other Work

Los Angeles Times