This week we covered the art of information and the intersection between data, design and communication which focused on how data visualisation and informational design can be transformed into raw engaging data as well as insightful narratives that resonate both intellectually and emotionally to the viewer. This exploration helped greatly with understanding what data is and how we can incorporate it correctly and visually within our own dashboards that we are currently designing.
The concept of the art of information is seen where raw data is transformed into something insightful and meaningful through thoughtful designs. During the beginning of our lecture, we looked at the work of Kenneth Cukier and how he offers a valuable insight into the role of data in our modern world and how it can be transformed into art.
In our world, big data has become one of the most influential forces shaping how we understand information itself, make decisions and design systems. It refers to the massive volume of data generated every second from online posts to transactions to trackers and so on. Big data is just a noise though, and the real value comes from how we interpret it, organise it and present it in a way that is meaningful.
We looked at different examples in class in which showcase different brands and companies utilising and breaking down data they have such as Netlfix where they use data from their system to understand what the viewer wants to watch and take various shows and films they offer on their site and break it down to see what is popular, what’s not and what will get them more viewers and data which is why they do so.
On this, we looked at a website called Information is Beautiful, which is an interactive dataset that is called How old are you and begins by asking how old you are takes this data and Distilling the world's data information and knowledge into beautiful infographics and visualisations. The site was quite interesting to use here.
The Johnny Cash Project exemplifies creative data utilization. Contributors worldwide submitted artwork for the "Ain't No Grave" video, resulting in an ever-evolving visual experience. The project brilliantly integrates data about contributors and their locations to shape the video's evolution. This unique blend of artistry and data analytics allows each submission to enrich the ongoing narrative.
The Johnny Cash Project - RadicalMedia®
Aaron Koblin's TED Talk on artfully visualizing our humanity is fascinating. He demonstrates how data can tell human stories in personal and meaningful ways—a perspective I hadn't considered before. His transformation of flight paths and text messages into visual art is remarkably beautiful. Rather than merely displaying numbers, he reveals the human connections beneath them. His visuals aren't just informative; they evoke emotion. It's a powerful reminder that each data point represents a human story.
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Today's class was shorter, but it offered some great takeaways. I particularly enjoyed Koblin's TED Talk and plan to explore his work further, as I found him truly inspirational. His beautiful perspective on data has prompted me to reconsider my approach to my dashboard project. Moving forward, I want to be more playful with data presentation, going beyond conventional charts and diagrams.
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