Hi, I'm Ash Ngu.
I am a designer and developer working in journalism, and an occasional photographer and woodworker.
Currently, I build data visualizations, stories and tools for ProPublica. My work has also been in The New York Times.
Journalism
- The Smoke Comes Every Year. Sugar Companies Say the Air Is Safe.Tracking the impact of cane burns in the GladesData analysis and visualization • Maps • Design and development • Writing
- Hawaii's Beaches Are DisappearingSee how shoreline structures contribute to erosion of the state's beachesPitching • Design and development • Maps • Drone videography • Writing
- Does Your Local Museum or University Still Have Native American Remains?See where human remains were taken from and which institutions report still having them.Pitching • Reporting • Data collection, analysis, visualization • Maps • Design and development • Writing
- America’s Highest Earners And Their Taxes RevealedThe more income you make, the higher your tax rate is... right?Design and development • Data visualization • Writing
- Chicken CheckerSee how often salmonella was found at the plant that processed your chicken or turkeyDesign and development • Data visualization • Writing • Photography
- States Are Reopening: See How Coronavirus Cases Rise or FallWhich states meet reopening guidelines?Design and development • Reporting • Data visualization
- Opinion | To Help Prevent the Next Big Wildfire, Let the Forest BurnA visual op-ed in favor of prescribed burnsPitching • Reporting • Writing • Interviewing • Design
- Opinion | We Should Worry About How China Uses Apps Like TikTokUsing app usage data to highlight the increased popularity of TikTok in the Five Eyes countriesPitching • Data visualization • Design and development
- What It Takes to Get an Abortion in the Most Restrictive U.S. StateA side-by-side comparison of abortion restrictionsReporting • Design and development
- After the Las Vegas Shooting, the Nation Moved On. Many Survivors Did Not.A one-year retrospective in collaboration with the National deskReporting • Writing • Interviewing • Data visualization
- Opinion | Why Can’t Rich People Save Winter?Ski season is shrinking. Yet the people who love the sport aren’t doing enough to stop climate change.Reporting • Interviewing • Data visualization
- Listen to Her: Gender on This American LifeAnalyzing the gender gap on an acclaimed showPitching • Data collection, analysis, visualization • Design and development • Writing • Interviewing
Photography
- San Francisco, California — Danny Pham shares an intimate moment at GAMeBoi SF.Part of a 2016 series called Coming Home, which highlighted queer Asian Americans and their concepts of home.
- San Francisco, California — Roy Luo gets ready for a goth party with his sister and best friend.Part of the Coming Home series
- Manhattan, New York — On the anniversary of 9/11, members of the FDNY Emerald Society played bagpipes outside of O'Hara's Pub.
- Manhattan, New York — An officer's head is gripped by a fellow first responder on the anniversary of 9/11.
- Fremont, California — Hsin Chuen-Lin demonstrates his throwing technique.
- Oakland, California — Inger Brinck feeding their four-month old son. They are considering moving out of Oakland as housing costs increase.Part of the Coming Home series
- Kyoto, Japan — A boy curls up underneath a slide to play his Nintendo DS.
- Kyoto, Japan — The ball flies wide in a casual match.
- Jericho, West Bank — Code for Palestine students play basketball after classes are done for the day.
- Jericho, West Bank — Code for Palestine students take design thinking classes in addition to programming.
- Chiba, Japan — Waiting for departure at Narita Airport.
- Medan, Indonesia — Visiting a batik shop at a local market.
- Kyoto, Japan — A boy catches and releases turtles at a local creek.
- Kyoto, Japan — A maple tree in the summer sun.
- Cook Inlet, Alaska — A boy and his father prepare to check the nets.
- Cook Inlet, Alaska — Salmon fishermen haul their net.
- Cook Inlet, Alaska — A tractor helps out on the fish site.
- Cook Inlet, Alaska — Kids play atop an ATV on the banks of a family-run salmon fishing operation.
- Rumsey, California — Marshall McLaughlin, an intern at a small organic farm in the Capay Valley.
- Pembroke, Maine — Severine Von Tscharner Fleming of Smithereen Farm stops on her way to her blueberry barrens.
- Machias, Maine — A multi-storied, wooden yurt built by Bill Coperthwaite.
- Pembroke, Maine — Launching a kayak on the Pennamaquan River
- Palo Alto, California — A high school quarterback asks a friend to deliver a rose during the Homecoming game.
- Danube Delta, Romania — A kohai stands in front of a bonfire on the last night of camp.
- Maricopa, California — Looking out over the Cuyama Valley
- Manhattan, New York — The Columbus Park basketball courts are popular with residents in the Chinatown neighborhood.
- Manhattan, New York — Outside of Lincoln Center
- Brooklyn, New York — Two mothers hold their daughters while watching July 4th fireworks over the East River.
- San Francisco, California — A young girl holds her dog at a Halloween pet costume festival.
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San Francisco, California - Danny Pham shares an intimate moment at GAMeBoi SF.
Part of a 2016 series called Coming Home, which highlighted queer Asian Americans and their concepts of home.
Woodworking
- Birch eating set
- Cherry table set
- Cherry flatpack low table
- Small spoon, birch
- Birch spoon
- Cherry spoon
- Stool, salvaged redwood seat, cherry legs
- A round stool with a thermochromic leather cushion.
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Birch eating set