Dear Data
Data
Postcards
Car Usage
I used butterflies to represent my car usage data because their movement mirrors the fluid motion of a car, while their natural variation allowed me to incorporate different visual details to represent data variables without feeling forced or unnatural. Each cluster of butterflies represents a single day, connected by flowing lines that guide the viewer’s eye and create a sense of continuity throughout the visualization.
Chatter
I designed this card to resemble an ocean from a bird’s-eye view, reflecting how conversations flow, shift, intensify, and soften, much like water. To represent different variables, I used colour along with elements naturally found in the ocean, such as fish, rocks, shells, and bubbles. These visual components reinforce the metaphor while keeping the data expressive and intuitive.
Cell Phone Usage
The cell phone usage card has the most technical aesthetic, reflecting the technological nature of the devices I use and allowing me to visually represent the significant amount of time I spend in front of my screens. To communicate variables, I used geometric shapes, colour, shading, and quantity. The most shocking insight for me, however, was the number of times I picked up my phone in a single day.
My Dog's Walks
Lastly, I tracked my dog’s walks: who he went with, how often, and what activities he engaged in. The visual patterns reveal a clear behavioural trend: my dog is, without question, a dedicated barker!
