#27 Responsible Design · Reg Abos, Cathryn Ploehn
Each designer is driven by unique motivations and visions when creating information design and data visualization, and responsibility plays an important role. What ethical considerations need to go into their creations to ensure their work acts as a force for good and behavior change? Where is the untapped potential for designers? As agents of change, designers have the opportunity to redefine ecosystems, influence global narratives and shape the socio-ecological landscape.
We explore what drives our speakers to innovate and push the boundaries of traditional data visualization. Alongside ethical questions on overarching considerations, we also explore how photography, illustration and code, when paired with data, can enhance narrative and emotional impact.
Darjan Hil from Superdot (https://www.superdot.studio/darjan-hi...) will host the next On Data And Design (https://www.ondataanddesign.com) online session live on Youtube.
Reg Abos (https://www.studioregina.work/), a designer, educator and researcher from Melbourne, will present her ongoing doctoral research on how playful representations of data can facilitate behavior change.
Cathryn Ploehn (https://cathrynploehn.com/feraldataviz/), a designer in the field of data visualization, will discuss her approach titled "Feral Data Visualization Manifesto."
Superdot Studio – Partner and Supporter
The team of information design specialists from Superdot Studio (https://superdot.studio) in Basel has supported the On Data And Design events from the beginning. With their commitment, Superdot sets a strong example for exchange within a global community. The events are free for all participants, making them accessible to everyone and promoting the visibility and appreciation of information designers worldwide.
00:00:00 Introduction of the speakers
00:01:50 Reg Abos · On Data And Design
00:21:37 Cathryn Ploehn · On Data And Design
00:46:30 Q&A
🌱 Key Insight 1: Playful analog approaches to data visualization can enhance socially responsible design. By incorporating elements of play and experimentation into data visualization, designers like Reg Abos can challenge normative visualization techniques and subvert oppressive norms and standards. Playful approaches allow for curiosity, agency, and the ability to make sense of complex information.
🌿 Key Insight 2: Vernacular self-tracking data visualization can lead to behavior change. Reg Abos' research on food waste ninjas and sleeping sheep showed that non-designers can engage with self-tracking data using their own intuitive visual fluency. Through playful and personalized visualizations, individuals were able to gain insights into their behaviors and change their habits related to food waste.
🌳 Key Insight 3: Responsible design requires a shift away from disembodied data visualization. Cathryn Ploehn's practice of feral data visualization emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our interdependence with the natural world. By using botanical simulations and embracing the messy, interconnected nature of ecosystems, designers can create data visualizations that foster a sense of belonging, care, and kinship with the environment.
🌷 Key Insight 4: Botanical simulations in data visualization can create space for beholding and observation. Cathryn Ploehn's projects demonstrate how botanical simulations can offer an alternative to traditional data visualization practices. By using plant forms and embodying the data, designers can invite viewers to notice, appreciate, and connect with the natural world in a more visceral and embodied way.
🌻 Key Insight 5: Beholding data through botanical simulations fosters a sense of intimacy and care. Cathryn Ploehn's work with botanical simulations highlights the transformative power of observation and deep attention. By immersing oneself in the intricacies and details of plant life, designers can develop a sense of belonging and affection, leading to increased care and agency towards the environment.
🌸 Key Insight 6: Place-based metaphors in data visualization can facilitate understanding and connection. Both Reg Abos and Cathryn Ploehn emphasize the importance of incorporating metaphors and visual language from the natural world into data visualization. By drawing on familiar ecological concepts and local flora, designers can create visualizations that resonate with viewers on a deeper level and foster a sense of shared fate and interconnectedness.
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