Meet Peiying Loh: Candidate for the SND Board of Directors

Peiying Loh

Current Title: Head and Co-founder
Organization: Kontinentalist
Country: Singapore

SND Vision

I have long admired and respected the Society of News Design and have used its body of work as a benchmark of the best of news design globally. Having now submitted our work to the Society's annual competition for several years, I have also increasingly desired greater representation and inclusion of examples from non-Western parts of the world, and from small/independent media. Asia, particularly, is rich with untapped potential and brings with it unique forms of visual communication in different cultural settings and challenges. The Society and its global community stands to benefit from this shared knowledge. In my role as Head and Co-founder of Kontinentalist, I have had the privilege of leading a team that brings Asia to the forefront of global conversations through data-driven storytelling. Our evolving principled approach, grounded in decolonization, feminism, and data humanism, informs every story we tell, ensuring that we challenge dominant narratives and prioritise the dignity and agency of the people behind the data. Kontinentalist is dedicated to bridging the gap between the research sector and the public, turning data into visually compelling narratives. We work with organizations and activists to enhance communication with the public. Our collaborators include the UNHCR, Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam, Asian Development Bank, and AWARE. Our work has won several awards, including an Information is Beautiful Awards Gold and Silver, and One World Media's Innovative Storytelling Award. Having run Kontinentalist for the past seven years has shown me the transformative power of diverse narratives-how they can not only reshape perceptions but uplift communities in how they see themselves. Greater inclusion is not just a matter of fairness; it is an opportunity to tap into new ideas, creative methods, and an expansive audience base that is eager for content that resonates with their experiences. I hope to bring these values to the society as a board member, and advocate for greater visibility of examples outside of its current periphery.

Bio

Peiying Loh is the Head and Co-founder of Kontinentalist, an award-winning data-driven editorial studio that aims to bring Asia to the forefront of global conversations. Since its founding in 2017, Kontinentalist has told innovative and rigorous data stories on topics ranging from how the rubber industry in Singapore and Malaysia was shaped by colonialism, to communicating climate change in Southeast Asia. Peiying's background and passion for history is the driving force behind many of her stories at Kontinentalist, and her work experience includes stints at various heritage-related institutions, including three years at the Asian Civilisations Museum's curatorial department. With Kontinentalist, she seeks to empower voices through cause-driven stories as well as change people's perception about Asia and its cultures. Peiying recently completed an MSc in Data, Inequality and Society at the University of Edinburgh's Futures Institute with support from the Chevening Foundation.