Beyond the Screen:
Studying Public Engagement with Physical Data
Beyond the Screen:
Studying Public Engagement with Physical Data
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Studying Public Engagement with Physical Data
Interviewing with Parksville Qualicum Beach News (PQB News) at the 'Data Reflections' gallery exhibit. Read more here.
A core goal in data visualization is to make complex information accessible and understandable. As digital data is increasingly translated into tangible forms – often called "data artifacts" or "physicalizations" – understanding how real-world audiences engage with these novel representations becomes critical for effective design.
Seeking to explore this, my data artifacts were featured in the "Data Reflections" exhibition at The Old School House (TOSH) Arts Centre in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, which ran from July 5 to September 5, 2022. This public gallery setting provided a unique research opportunity to observe how diverse audiences interacted with data artifacts "in the wild," providing invaluable insights to inform the design of future tangible data experiences.
A core goal in data visualization is to make complex information accessible and understandable. As digital data is increasingly translated into tangible forms – often called "data artifacts" or "physicalizations" – understanding how real-world audiences engage with these novel representations becomes critical for effective design.
Seeking to explore this, my data artifacts were featured in the "Data Reflections" exhibition at The Old School House (TOSH) Arts Centre in Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, which ran from July 5 to September 5, 2022. This public gallery setting provided a unique research opportunity to observe how diverse audiences interacted with data artifacts "in the wild," providing invaluable insights to inform the design of future tangible data experiences.
Piece 1 – Unfolding CO₂ Stories: Total vs. Per-Capita Emissions
Piece 1 – Unfolding CO₂ Stories: Total vs. Per-Capita Emissions
This interactive installation presents a dual-perspective view on carbon emissions—contrasting absolute national emissions with per-capita impact. Featuring seven of the top global emitters (China, U.S., EU, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea), it challenges viewers to rethink environmental responsibility.
This interactive installation presents a dual-perspective view on carbon emissions—contrasting absolute national emissions with per-capita impact. Featuring seven of the top global emitters (China, U.S., EU, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea), it challenges viewers to rethink environmental responsibility.
Data Mapping Approach:
- Total CO₂ emissions are mapped to the number of loops in each cut pattern. The more loops, the larger the overall form—making emission volume immediately visible.
- Population size is mapped to the number of joints, which affects the density of the pattern when expanded. Higher population means more joints and a denser structure.
- The interaction between overall size (total emissions) and density (population) creates a physical representation of per-capita emissions. In other words, how far each structure expands reflects how much CO₂ is emitted per person.
Piece 2: Heat Crisis Map: Visualizing Deaths During the 2021 B.C. Heat Dome
Piece 2: Heat Crisis Map: Visualizing Deaths During the 2021 B.C. Heat Dome
This interactive data physicalization highlights the lives lost during the devastating 2021 heat dome in British Columbia, Canada. Based on official data from the BC Coroners Service (June 20 – July 29, 2021), the piece translates mortality statistics into a tactile experience that emphasizes the human cost of climate emergencies.
This interactive data physicalization highlights the lives lost during the devastating 2021 heat dome in British Columbia, Canada. Based on official data from the BC Coroners Service (June 20 – July 29, 2021), the piece translates mortality statistics into a tactile experience that emphasizes the human cost of climate emergencies.
Data Mapping Approach:
- Geographic layout: Each circular pattern represents a city, placed according to its real-world location. The surrounding lines are inspired by topographic contours, reinforcing the environmental context.
- Number of deaths is mapped to the number of loops—one loop per 3 deaths. This creates immediate visual cues about the relative impact across cities.
- Population is mapped to the number of joints—one joint per 2,000 people. This controls the density of the pattern, which influences how the structure unfolds.
- The amount of expansion reflects per-capita deaths. Cities with fewer deaths but smaller populations expand more, signaling a higher per-capita impact. For example, Langley expands more than Surrey, indicating its higher vulnerability relative to size.
Piece 3 – Emission Expansion Timeline: 40 Years of CO₂ Output
Piece 3 – Emission Expansion Timeline: 40 Years of CO₂ Output
It is a static, tabletop physicalization that chronicles the evolution of CO₂ emissions from major emitters between 1980 and 2020 (see the illustration below). The structure’s volume reflects emission changes over time—growing, shrinking, or remaining stable—as you move vertically from base to top.
It is a static, tabletop physicalization that chronicles the evolution of CO₂ emissions from major emitters between 1980 and 2020 (see the illustration below). The structure’s volume reflects emission changes over time—growing, shrinking, or remaining stable—as you move vertically from base to top.
Design Features:
Design Features:
- Each country's shape evolves along a vertical timeline.
- Visitors can view changes within a country or compare trends across countries.
- Formed using KiriPhys structures, the piece demonstrates how data transformations inform 3D outcomes.
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