We’re building a place to create, collaborate, and learn with data.
Observable’s approach
We believe thinking with data is an essential skill for the future.
It shouldn’t be relegated to a specialized role, siloed or constrained by point-and-click tools. To make better decisions, everyone needs to participate. Everyone can think better if they are able to explore and visualize data without limits.
We’ve been inspired by the transformative power of open source: code sharing, open collaboration, and transparent design are now the norm for great software. Those same principles guide the core experience of building visualizations on our platform, creating a community where people can build on and learn from each other.
Observable reimagines how we can come together to make sense of data for this modern, connected world. We make working with data more collaborative, approachable, interactive, and social — maybe even joyful.
A growing community of data practitioners
Observable’s community is made up of hundreds of thousands of data practitioners: data analysts, data scientists, front-end developers, students, teachers, and other humans working with data. Together, they’re creating and sharing their work with more than 5 million visitors and contributing to the largest collection of data visualization examples in the world.
A collaborative data canvas built for and powered by community where everyone can come together to make sense of the world with data.
- 2011First release of D3.js, an open-source data visualization tool
- 2016Observable founded and development begins
- 2018Preview at OpenVis Conf. Public launch. First 50,000 notebooks
- 2020Observable Teams and Enterprise
- 2021Observable Plot
- 2022+Collaborate in Community Teams
Data complexity requires greater transparency
and finding insights more quickly
The growing complexity of the world’s data demands new ways of understanding. The development of libraries like D3 created a community around powerful tools for building dynamic data visualizations — a renaissance in informational visualizations for the web.
We’re building on that foundation, reimagining how people work with data together.
Observable is the best place to explore, analyze and explain data. It’s where you can discover and learn data analysis and communication techniques from a vibrant community.
With a global library of reusable examples, point and click interfaces that can be used alongside custom code, templates, and Observable Plot, built into the platform, Observable makes it easy to get started for anyone, with the ability to follow the story their data is telling them.
Observable makes working with data more approachable, interactive, transparent and collaborative — it’s where everyone can make sense of the data in the world.
Our team
We’re visualization enthusiasts. We’re chart connoisseurs. We’re open source developers. We’re map geeks, spreadsheet lovers, and color palette fiends.
We love helping people understand the world better and we want you to join us in helping the world make sense of data.
If you want to get a feel for what it’s like to work at Observable, check out some of our public notes about our company culture and equality work.
Founders
Mike Bostock
Melody Meckfessel
Team
A.J.
Allison
Amanda
Ananya
Annie
Cam
Carl
Cindy
Clint
Cobus
Courtney
Duane
Dunstan
Erika
Erinn
Fernando
Fil
Grant
Hena
Justin
Kudakwashe
LaShaun
Libbey
Lilia
Matt
Maria
Michael
Mike
Paul
Preston
Rachel H.
Rachel W-H
Ramona
Robert
Sylvestre
Toph
Virginia
Visnu
Wayne
Wiltse
Yuri
Investors
Observable is backed by Sequoia, Menlo Ventures and Acrew Capital.
Jobs
We are looking for talented teammates who are compassionate about helping more people explore, analyze, and explain data.