In the face of pressing global issues like climate change, data visualization is a powerful tool for making sense of complexity. Drawing from diverse readings on climate change and capitalism, with the project “A Perfect Storm”, we initially aimed to highlight the dichotomy between countries least responsible for climate change yet most at risk. However, as we went through the process of gathering and visualizing data, we found that there was much more nuance to this story. This process highlights the importance of critical reflection of data and the context in which it is situated. The project combined datasets on greenhouse gas emissions from Our World in Data and the Climate Risk Index from Germanwatch to explore the relationship between a country’s contributions to climate change and its experience of climate-related natural disasters. This interdisciplinary approach to data allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved. Creative activities played a central role in the project, with the team ideating on nature-inspired forms to represent the data. Analogical thinking in particular was key in establishing connections across domains and generating novel and relevant ideas. The primary visual metaphor of a hurricane was chosen to represent climate risk, while the secondary visual metaphor of smoke clouds was chosen to represent emissions. Data encoded in both the size and motion of the elements creates a representation rooted in real phenomena. This process of constructing meaning through representation in data visualization is not straightforward. It requires a deep engagement with data, technical expertise, a willingness to challenge preconceived notions, and a purposeful engagement in creative activities.
Project team: Chloe H. Prock and Gregory Gold, advised by Pedro Cruz
This project will be shown at the Existencia Numerica exhibition in Rio in March 2024.