MYE DATABASE
BIRD'S EYE VIEW POSTER
I started collecting data from MassArt students and added my contributions to the master database where I was able to structure the database through filters that helps me further understand and categorize data that benefits the concepts for my bird’s eye view poster. For my poster, I chose to use students’ zodiac signs as a baseline for the colors as well as the quantity to represent the size, volume, and separation for each data used. In this case, I used the idea of fireworks as the data visualization because of its flexibility for the scale and colors to be manipulated in a way that makes sense with the representation.
Data Sequencing
For the next exploration of this project, I focused on data sequence through a videographic lens using a more narrowed lens of the data. I wanted to focus on one particular zodiac sign, the crab, the wonderful cancer. I wanted to highlight certain data for the people particularly born in the months of June and July and to show a glimpse of their personality traits of cancer. How many people prefer to be smart than good looking? Do they prefer to be high or drunk when making art? Do they prefer to cook, dine out, or order? All of these matters allow the audience to understand the whys and hows of a cancer. This can also be used to study the general traits of a cancer, build connections, and understand each other's differences.
Interactive Design
Last but not least, I decided to explore an interactive design using the data. For my approach, I wanted to highlight the amount of students who said their passion for art has either diminished, grew, or has stayed the same. I explored this data by providing a space for students to measure their stress level this semester through balloons. There is an interesting nuance to explore with how much air each student chooses to put in their balloons, in which stress is represented by the volume of air that is inside in the balloon which also is categorized by their zodiac signs. Students were also free to write something on the balloon that either has been on their mind or to simply encourage other students, including themselves.
With results rolling in, there were some balloons that popped, some choose to not blow up a balloon because they are not as stressed, while others have a balloon so big that it is on the verge of popping. I really like this exercise because there is a chance to be vulnerable and to seek refuge with others who are undergoing the same stress. This exercise allowed me to visualize which zodiac signs garnered the most stress this semester as well as which zodiac signs are not as stressed. This exercise has the potential to create a vibrant and large installation in which can be used to visualize data in an inviting and interesting perspective.
The rule board for this interactive exercise
For this exercise, I wanted to explore the data of MassArt students whose passion in art has either diminished or fluctuated ever since starting art school. The goal is to be able to measure the amount of stress each student/data through tangible quantification. While air is not easily tangible, it can be isolated through other matters. In this case, I chose to measure the level of stress through the measurement of air in a balloon. The air represents your thoughts, stress, and emotions while the balloon represents you as well as your zodiac sign. I believe our stress and the decisions we make are influenced by our perspective and experiences. The accuracy of zodiac horoscopes can be both fascinating and horrifying because every
zodiac signs has personalities unique to them. With this in mind, certain zodiac signs handle stress very differently from others.
zodiac signs has personalities unique to them. With this in mind, certain zodiac signs handle stress very differently from others.
A COLLECTION OF BALLOONS FILLED BY STUDENTS
WITH THEIR WRITTEN THOUGHTS REGARDING
THEIR STRESS LEVEL
AFTER
THOUGHTS
As seen, there is a lot of narrative in this exercise provided by students through data visualization. This exercise is a glimpse to the students’ emotional state this semester. There is a glimmer of hope, perseverance, vulnerability, and certainly a lot of hurt. But despite all of the adversity this semester, a lot of the communication design students persevere to finish this semester strong. This exercise or experiment has the potential to be explored further in which would create a beautiful and interesting installation by using data.
There are a couple things I can improve on visually: Containment of the balloons by tying it on a constricted board or perhaps, tying all of the balloons together to create a giant hot air balloon. I believe this would create an impactful visualization of the data itself. Another thing I could improve on is perhaps adding a way to measure the size of the balloon and categorizing it.