my dad is a man for whom a year is marked by the passing of the American
marked by the passing of the American
marked by the passing of the American sport seasons summer is of course
sport seasons summer is of course
sport seasons summer is of course baseball season so when I was young my
baseball season so when I was young my
baseball season so when I was young my dad would take me to a Colorado Rockies
dad would take me to a Colorado Rockies
dad would take me to a Colorado Rockies game in downtown Denver and we’d make
game in downtown Denver and we’d make
game in downtown Denver and we’d make our way to our seats and once the game
our way to our seats and once the game
our way to our seats and once the game began he’d hand me a clipboard a
began he’d hand me a clipboard a
began he’d hand me a clipboard a mechanical pencil and a paper scorecard
mechanical pencil and a paper scorecard
mechanical pencil and a paper scorecard and I’d help him score the baseball game
and I’d help him score the baseball game
and I’d help him score the baseball game baseball scoring is a dying art but it
baseball scoring is a dying art but it
baseball scoring is a dying art but it has its roots in the cricket scorecards
has its roots in the cricket scorecards
has its roots in the cricket scorecards that you lot the British invented a
that you lot the British invented a
that you lot the British invented a scorecards double sided with one team on
scorecards double sided with one team on
scorecards double sided with one team on each side with the innings across the
each side with the innings across the
each side with the innings across the top and the players in batting order
top and the players in batting order
top and the players in batting order down the side and using a set of cryptic
down the side and using a set of cryptic
down the side and using a set of cryptic abbreviations and notations you notate
abbreviations and notations you notate
abbreviations and notations you notate each plays that happens in the game
each plays that happens in the game
each plays that happens in the game there are some general conventions but
there are some general conventions but
there are some general conventions but no single set of notations and these are
no single set of notations and these are
no single set of notations and these are often adapted by scores in idiosyncratic
often adapted by scores in idiosyncratic
often adapted by scores in idiosyncratic ways and then these idiosyncrasies are
ways and then these idiosyncrasies are
ways and then these idiosyncrasies are passed from one generation to another
passed from one generation to another
passed from one generation to another like from father to daughter and so I’d
like from father to daughter and so I’d
like from father to daughter and so I’d sit by my dad watching and scoring the
sit by my dad watching and scoring the
sit by my dad watching and scoring the game sometimes asking him for help
game sometimes asking him for help
game sometimes asking him for help and we’d slowly fill out the scorecard
and we’d slowly fill out the scorecard
and we’d slowly fill out the scorecard together when the game is ended and the
together when the game is ended and the
together when the game is ended and the score card is filled my dad and I didn’t
score card is filled my dad and I didn’t
score card is filled my dad and I didn’t go home and analyze the data we gathered
go home and analyze the data we gathered
go home and analyze the data we gathered in order to drive deeper insight about
in order to drive deeper insight about
in order to drive deeper insight about the players instead my dad put the score
the players instead my dad put the score
the players instead my dad put the score card in his filing cabinet to keep as a
card in his filing cabinet to keep as a
card in his filing cabinet to keep as a souvenir sometimes he’d even put the
souvenir sometimes he’d even put the
souvenir sometimes he’d even put the weather for the game on top of the
weather for the game on top of the
weather for the game on top of the scorecard and when I was young I’d joke
scorecard and when I was young I’d joke
scorecard and when I was young I’d joke that in the winter he could keep himself
that in the winter he could keep himself
that in the winter he could keep himself warm by rereading his collection of
warm by rereading his collection of
warm by rereading his collection of scorecards and imagining himself in the
scorecards and imagining himself in the
scorecards and imagining himself in the Sun now while I’ve painted a picture of
Sun now while I’ve painted a picture of
Sun now while I’ve painted a picture of Anna Dilek father-daughter scene to be
Anna Dilek father-daughter scene to be
Anna Dilek father-daughter scene to be honest I often found baseball games long
honest I often found baseball games long
honest I often found baseball games long and boring often being much more
and boring often being much more
and boring often being much more interested in visiting the souvenir shop
interested in visiting the souvenir shop
interested in visiting the souvenir shop or buying candy or following boys around
or buying candy or following boys around
or buying candy or following boys around the stadium concourse
the stadium concourse
the stadium concourse but still for some reason the physical
but still for some reason the physical
but still for some reason the physical act of scoring a baseball game stuck
act of scoring a baseball game stuck
act of scoring a baseball game stuck with me and this often litter
with me and this often litter
with me and this often litter the left field experience greatly
the left field experience greatly
the left field experience greatly influenced my creative practice probably
influenced my creative practice probably
influenced my creative practice probably because it was the first time I gathered
because it was the first time I gathered
because it was the first time I gathered and visualized data looking back I
and visualized data looking back I
and visualized data looking back I scored a game for the same reason every
scored a game for the same reason every
scored a game for the same reason every other score does to stay in the moment
other score does to stay in the moment
other score does to stay in the moment to be present to be less distracted to
to be present to be less distracted to
to be present to be less distracted to get in the game and to make a souvenir
get in the game and to make a souvenir
get in the game and to make a souvenir of the game you can always refer back to
of the game you can always refer back to
of the game you can always refer back to through freezing and preserving it in
through freezing and preserving it in
through freezing and preserving it in between two sides of paper like insects
between two sides of paper like insects
between two sides of paper like insects fossilized in amber these early
fossilized in amber these early
fossilized in amber these early experiences with my father convinced me
experiences with my father convinced me
experiences with my father convinced me there’s a power in the process and
there’s a power in the process and
there’s a power in the process and experience of data gathering and that
experience of data gathering and that
experience of data gathering and that data gathering can offer benefits more
data gathering can offer benefits more
data gathering can offer benefits more focused on the well-being of the data
focused on the well-being of the data
focused on the well-being of the data collector instead of statistical insight
collector instead of statistical insight
collector instead of statistical insight as I got older these baseball games
as I got older these baseball games
as I got older these baseball games became a thing of the past as at 22 I
became a thing of the past as at 22 I
became a thing of the past as at 22 I moved to the UK for an MA in
moved to the UK for an MA in
moved to the UK for an MA in communication design and on my MA
communication design and on my MA
communication design and on my MA my early experiences with baseball
my early experiences with baseball
my early experiences with baseball scoring manifested themselves in a
scoring manifested themselves in a
scoring manifested themselves in a project I called riding without words
project I called riding without words
project I called riding without words where I gathered data from on the road
where I gathered data from on the road
where I gathered data from on the road by Jack Kerouac and then explored ways
by Jack Kerouac and then explored ways
by Jack Kerouac and then explored ways of visualizing this data to highlight
of visualizing this data to highlight
of visualizing this data to highlight the hidden prep the hidden patterns and
the hidden prep the hidden patterns and
the hidden prep the hidden patterns and structure of attacks here my experience
structure of attacks here my experience
structure of attacks here my experience of the baseball scorecard also compelled
of the baseball scorecard also compelled
of the baseball scorecard also compelled me to gather data from the text in the
me to gather data from the text in the
me to gather data from the text in the same engaged manner by hand using the
same engaged manner by hand using the
same engaged manner by hand using the process to get closer to a book I loved
process to get closer to a book I loved
process to get closer to a book I loved as a teenager then once I visualize the
as a teenager then once I visualize the
as a teenager then once I visualize the data I again felt that satisfaction of
data I again felt that satisfaction of
data I again felt that satisfaction of being able to press a large amount of
being able to press a large amount of
being able to press a large amount of information an entire novel onto a
information an entire novel onto a
information an entire novel onto a single side of paper this was the first
single side of paper this was the first
single side of paper this was the first data project I’d ever created and it
data project I’d ever created and it
data project I’d ever created and it really can my interest in this analog
really can my interest in this analog
really can my interest in this analog process of looking collecting and
process of looking collecting and
process of looking collecting and notating and so I began to create design
notating and so I began to create design
notating and so I began to create design work where this type of manual notation
work where this type of manual notation
work where this type of manual notation was an integral part of the design
was an integral part of the design
was an integral part of the design process where statistical insight took a
process where statistical insight took a
process where statistical insight took a backseat to the experience of engaging
backseat to the experience of engaging
backseat to the experience of engaging with data where the end design function
with data where the end design function
with data where the end design function both as a souvenir of the process
both as a souvenir of the process
both as a souvenir of the process also aim to communicate messages beyond
also aim to communicate messages beyond
also aim to communicate messages beyond the insights locked within the data and
the insights locked within the data and
the insights locked within the data and these messages are often more subjective
these messages are often more subjective
these messages are often more subjective and driven by emotion this different way
and driven by emotion this different way
and driven by emotion this different way of working with data can be seen in my
of working with data can be seen in my
of working with data can be seen in my piece at the Olympic Park in East London
piece at the Olympic Park in East London
piece at the Olympic Park in East London from last year made using data that
from last year made using data that
from last year made using data that schoolchildren had to collect it from
schoolchildren had to collect it from
schoolchildren had to collect it from the park not for statistical insight but
the park not for statistical insight but
the park not for statistical insight but inside to inform the design of a new
inside to inform the design of a new
inside to inform the design of a new data-driven park landscape and another
data-driven park landscape and another
data-driven park landscape and another example can be seen in a collection of a
example can be seen in a collection of a
example can be seen in a collection of a thousand small drawings that visualize
thousand small drawings that visualize
thousand small drawings that visualize data from the thousand most frequently
data from the thousand most frequently
data from the thousand most frequently used English words visualise not to draw
used English words visualise not to draw
used English words visualise not to draw statistical insight but instead to
statistical insight but instead to
statistical insight but instead to highlight the beautiful variation in the
highlight the beautiful variation in the
highlight the beautiful variation in the English language and displayed at the
English language and displayed at the
English language and displayed at the British Council Pavilion at a Book Fair
British Council Pavilion at a Book Fair
British Council Pavilion at a Book Fair in Mexico so as you can see instead of
in Mexico so as you can see instead of
in Mexico so as you can see instead of communicating with traditional design
communicating with traditional design
communicating with traditional design materials I choose to communicate with
materials I choose to communicate with
materials I choose to communicate with data often data gathered in a manual
data often data gathered in a manual
data often data gathered in a manual analog laborious way as for a data
analog laborious way as for a data
analog laborious way as for a data visualization I see it as a design
visualization I see it as a design
visualization I see it as a design process that I used to work with this
process that I used to work with this
process that I used to work with this material a processor as we move into the
material a processor as we move into the
material a processor as we move into the future will be as common a method for a
future will be as common a method for a
future will be as common a method for a designer to create and communicate with
designer to create and communicate with
designer to create and communicate with as much as the golden mean color Theory
as much as the golden mean color Theory
as much as the golden mean color Theory Design Systems and all of the other
Design Systems and all of the other
Design Systems and all of the other tools and rules of thumb that designers
tools and rules of thumb that designers
tools and rules of thumb that designers use daily and seeing data visualization
use daily and seeing data visualization
use daily and seeing data visualization as a design process challenged me to
as a design process challenged me to
as a design process challenged me to extend the visual languages that
extend the visual languages that
extend the visual languages that designers used to work with data
designers used to work with data
designers used to work with data exploring ways of presenting data that
exploring ways of presenting data that
exploring ways of presenting data that besides being legible are more memorable
besides being legible are more memorable
besides being legible are more memorable and more expressive to a lay person
and more expressive to a lay person
and more expressive to a lay person audience who might just be learning
audience who might just be learning
audience who might just be learning about data for the first time so this
about data for the first time so this
about data for the first time so this could mean making data danceable like
could mean making data danceable like
could mean making data danceable like this project I created as the first data
this project I created as the first data
this project I created as the first data artists and residents at Facebook where
artists and residents at Facebook where
artists and residents at Facebook where I converted a month of a couples
I converted a month of a couples
I converted a month of a couples interactions on Facebook timelines into
interactions on Facebook timelines into
interactions on Facebook timelines into dance steps bringing their digital dance
dance steps bringing their digital dance
dance steps bringing their digital dance across time lines into a physical space
across time lines into a physical space
across time lines into a physical space or it could mean making data hopital
or it could mean making data hopital
or it could mean making data hopital like my open data playground for the
like my open data playground for the
like my open data playground for the Southbank Centre in London where
Southbank Centre in London where
Southbank Centre in London where hopscotch is were created from open data
hopscotch is were created from open data
hopscotch is were created from open data sets in order to communicate
sets in order to communicate
sets in order to communicate how open data is online for anyone to
how open data is online for anyone to
how open data is online for anyone to play with and interpret however they
play with and interpret however they
play with and interpret however they choose even if some of those
choose even if some of those
choose even if some of those interpretations are less conventional
interpretations are less conventional
interpretations are less conventional than others or it could mean making data
than others or it could mean making data
than others or it could mean making data that’s touchable and wearable like this
that’s touchable and wearable like this
that’s touchable and wearable like this Commission with Miriam quick where we
Commission with Miriam quick where we
Commission with Miriam quick where we explored physical ways of communicating
explored physical ways of communicating
explored physical ways of communicating air quality data from Sheffield in a
air quality data from Sheffield in a
air quality data from Sheffield in a hopefully memorable way for a citizen
hopefully memorable way for a citizen
hopefully memorable way for a citizen audience potentially uninterested in air
audience potentially uninterested in air
audience potentially uninterested in air quality one part of the project
quality one part of the project
quality one part of the project presented weeks of particulate matter
presented weeks of particulate matter
presented weeks of particulate matter data as something you could touch and
data as something you could touch and
data as something you could touch and wear and then the other part
wear and then the other part
wear and then the other part communicated days of pollution levels in
communicated days of pollution levels in
communicated days of pollution levels in Sheffield through glasses that would
Sheffield through glasses that would
Sheffield through glasses that would make your vision more or less hazy
make your vision more or less hazy
make your vision more or less hazy depending on the data okay as you can
depending on the data okay as you can
depending on the data okay as you can see these projects aren’t your typical
see these projects aren’t your typical
see these projects aren’t your typical bar chart and early in my career I give
bar chart and early in my career I give
bar chart and early in my career I give talks about my work and people would ask
talks about my work and people would ask
talks about my work and people would ask me what’s what’s the key insight
me what’s what’s the key insight
me what’s what’s the key insight what’s the key truth revealed through
what’s the key truth revealed through
what’s the key truth revealed through presenting this data as though they were
presenting this data as though they were
presenting this data as though they were scientific visualizations or pieces of
scientific visualizations or pieces of
scientific visualizations or pieces of data journalism and I couldn’t really
data journalism and I couldn’t really
data journalism and I couldn’t really answer and this is when I realized I was
answer and this is when I realized I was
answer and this is when I realized I was working with data in a different way
working with data in a different way
working with data in a different way with a different process and a different
with a different process and a different
with a different process and a different endpoint and since my work with data
endpoint and since my work with data
endpoint and since my work with data didn’t always arrive at a grand
didn’t always arrive at a grand
didn’t always arrive at a grand statistical conclusion it seemed that
statistical conclusion it seemed that
statistical conclusion it seemed that for many people my work wasn’t valuable
for many people my work wasn’t valuable
for many people my work wasn’t valuable or it wasn’t useful but I still felt
or it wasn’t useful but I still felt
or it wasn’t useful but I still felt there was value in this analog laborious
there was value in this analog laborious
there was value in this analog laborious often physical way of grappling with
often physical way of grappling with
often physical way of grappling with data this process helped me stay in the
data this process helped me stay in the
data this process helped me stay in the game and be closer to my work now as I
game and be closer to my work now as I
game and be closer to my work now as I mentioned before I’m an American
mentioned before I’m an American
mentioned before I’m an American immigrant turned British citizen over
immigrant turned British citizen over
immigrant turned British citizen over time beginning to better understand the
time beginning to better understand the
time beginning to better understand the nuances of British culture and at some
nuances of British culture and at some
nuances of British culture and at some point I stumbled upon a slang term that
point I stumbled upon a slang term that
point I stumbled upon a slang term that piqued my interest the slang term anorak
piqued my interest the slang term anorak
piqued my interest the slang term anorak now one of my favorite words and after
now one of my favorite words and after
now one of my favorite words and after research online I can define an anorak
research online I can define an anorak
research online I can define an anorak as a person who is interested in the
as a person who is interested in the
as a person who is interested in the collection of minuscule arcane and quite
collection of minuscule arcane and quite
collection of minuscule arcane and quite often useless but
often useless but
often useless but of information and the term comes from
of information and the term comes from
of information and the term comes from the type of coat stereotypically worn by
the type of coat stereotypically worn by
the type of coat stereotypically worn by trainspotters
trainspotters
trainspotters as they gather their data on the train
as they gather their data on the train
as they gather their data on the train platforms similar to the chat that you
platforms similar to the chat that you
platforms similar to the chat that you see on screen and after looking at a
see on screen and after looking at a
see on screen and after looking at a NanoRacks usual output lots of handmade
NanoRacks usual output lots of handmade
NanoRacks usual output lots of handmade notations jottings and tallies like in
notations jottings and tallies like in
notations jottings and tallies like in these notebooks from a train spotter and
these notebooks from a train spotter and
these notebooks from a train spotter and a bird spotter on the left and then
a bird spotter on the left and then
a bird spotter on the left and then looking at the output of my design
looking at the output of my design
looking at the output of my design process on the right ok it was then that
process on the right ok it was then that
process on the right ok it was then that I realised I too was a card-carrying
I realised I too was a card-carrying
I realised I too was a card-carrying anorak due to how I found more value in
anorak due to how I found more value in
anorak due to how I found more value in the data collection process and the end
the data collection process and the end
the data collection process and the end statistical insight but as you can see
statistical insight but as you can see
statistical insight but as you can see in this film the term anorak is
in this film the term anorak is
in this film the term anorak is considered derogatory and negative in
considered derogatory and negative in
considered derogatory and negative in the UK and baseball scorecards are often
the UK and baseball scorecards are often
the UK and baseball scorecards are often considered one for the geeks it seemed
considered one for the geeks it seemed
considered one for the geeks it seemed to be nerdy uncool and antisocial to be
to be nerdy uncool and antisocial to be
to be nerdy uncool and antisocial to be collecting data on the things you’re
collecting data on the things you’re
collecting data on the things you’re passionate about though I disagree data
passionate about though I disagree data
passionate about though I disagree data collecting doesn’t have to offer
collecting doesn’t have to offer
collecting doesn’t have to offer scientific conclusions to be meaningful
scientific conclusions to be meaningful
scientific conclusions to be meaningful as the experience of data gathering can
as the experience of data gathering can
as the experience of data gathering can be where the meaning is found and
be where the meaning is found and
be where the meaning is found and experience is the right word data
experience is the right word data
experience is the right word data gathering has been part of our human
gathering has been part of our human
gathering has been part of our human experience for tens of thousands of
experience for tens of thousands of
experience for tens of thousands of years early human writing systems
years early human writing systems
years early human writing systems weren’t first used to record poetry
weren’t first used to record poetry
weren’t first used to record poetry mythology or history but were used from
mythology or history but were used from
mythology or history but were used from the beginning to record data to record
the beginning to record data to record
the beginning to record data to record accounts and really we’re all secret
accounts and really we’re all secret
accounts and really we’re all secret anoraks we’re all acting like data
anoraks we’re all acting like data
anoraks we’re all acting like data Magpies collecting useless numbers and
Magpies collecting useless numbers and
Magpies collecting useless numbers and storing them away as we move about our
storing them away as we move about our
storing them away as we move about our day I mean many of us in this room will
day I mean many of us in this room will
day I mean many of us in this room will know our precise weight watching every
know our precise weight watching every
know our precise weight watching every creep of the number up and down the
creep of the number up and down the
creep of the number up and down the scale or we might work we might mark
scale or we might work we might mark
scale or we might work we might mark places we visited on a wall map at home
places we visited on a wall map at home
places we visited on a wall map at home or know the precise calorie count of our
or know the precise calorie count of our
or know the precise calorie count of our favourite biscuits really many of the
favourite biscuits really many of the
favourite biscuits really many of the numbers we collect could be considered
numbers we collect could be considered
numbers we collect could be considered as meaningless and as useless as the
as meaningless and as useless as the
as meaningless and as useless as the data that an anorak collects but this
data that an anorak collects but this
data that an anorak collects but this isn’t useless as the basic act of
isn’t useless as the basic act of
isn’t useless as the basic act of collecting data on a topic any topic
collecting data on a topic any topic
collecting data on a topic any topic means it’s important to the author and
means it’s important to the author and
means it’s important to the author and brings the author closer to something
brings the author closer to something
brings the author closer to something they care about looking at the data that
they care about looking at the data that
they care about looking at the data that you gather as a secret anorak is a way
you gather as a secret anorak is a way
you gather as a secret anorak is a way of figuring out what’s important to you
of figuring out what’s important to you
of figuring out what’s important to you and you know we would never chastise a
and you know we would never chastise a
and you know we would never chastise a new parent for their collection of the
new parent for their collection of the
new parent for their collection of the often useless data it’s traditionally
often useless data it’s traditionally
often useless data it’s traditionally gathered in a baby book or talked badly
gathered in a baby book or talked badly
gathered in a baby book or talked badly of a family that carefully collected the
of a family that carefully collected the
of a family that carefully collected the heights of its family members these
heights of its family members these
heights of its family members these numbers are cherished and held on to you
numbers are cherished and held on to you
numbers are cherished and held on to you through the years so as you can see many
through the years so as you can see many
through the years so as you can see many people gather data to keep score to stay
people gather data to keep score to stay
people gather data to keep score to stay in the game and to get closer to things
in the game and to get closer to things
in the game and to get closer to things that matter to them and I see this
that matter to them and I see this
that matter to them and I see this gathering of small data as valuable and
gathering of small data as valuable and
gathering of small data as valuable and I consider another form of making where
I consider another form of making where
I consider another form of making where someone might use this approach to make
someone might use this approach to make
someone might use this approach to make sense to understand what they love more
sense to understand what they love more
sense to understand what they love more closely or to make a connection to be
closely or to make a connection to be
closely or to make a connection to be more present and aware or to make a
more present and aware or to make a
more present and aware or to make a souvenir or memory to create a record of
souvenir or memory to create a record of
souvenir or memory to create a record of the very human performance of just
the very human performance of just
the very human performance of just living and of get-getting by where this
living and of get-getting by where this
living and of get-getting by where this physical way of making through noting
physical way of making through noting
physical way of making through noting and marking can offer the same
and marking can offer the same
and marking can offer the same well-being in pleasure as other acts of
well-being in pleasure as other acts of
well-being in pleasure as other acts of creation and for me I’ve chosen to use
creation and for me I’ve chosen to use
creation and for me I’ve chosen to use this form of making as a critical part
this form of making as a critical part
this form of making as a critical part of my design practice when we look at
of my design practice when we look at
of my design practice when we look at data from this viewpoint we can see a
data from this viewpoint we can see a
data from this viewpoint we can see a view of data quite different to the
view of data quite different to the
view of data quite different to the often cold and computerized perception
often cold and computerized perception
often cold and computerized perception of big data where data can now be seen
of big data where data can now be seen
of big data where data can now be seen as warm and part of the human story and
as warm and part of the human story and
as warm and part of the human story and data gathering is an act that can often
data gathering is an act that can often
data gathering is an act that can often be joyful emotional memorable and
be joyful emotional memorable and
be joyful emotional memorable and meaningful and this viewpoint what opens
meaningful and this viewpoint what opens
meaningful and this viewpoint what opens up what’s possible using data now a data
up what’s possible using data now a data
up what’s possible using data now a data sight can be presented with a focus on
sight can be presented with a focus on
sight can be presented with a focus on its lateral truths revealing a collector
its lateral truths revealing a collector
its lateral truths revealing a collector or visualizers emotions wants needs
or visualizers emotions wants needs
or visualizers emotions wants needs personality and so on and artists can
personality and so on and artists can
personality and so on and artists can respond to a data set in the same way
respond to a data set in the same way
respond to a data set in the same way they can respond to an event an era or
they can respond to an event an era or
they can respond to an event an era or something in the culture around us and
something in the culture around us and
something in the culture around us and anoraks can gather data for the
anoraks can gather data for the
anoraks can gather data for the experience and enjoyment of using this
experience and enjoyment of using this
experience and enjoyment of using this process to get closer to
process to get closer to
process to get closer to something they love and I’m excited
something they love and I’m excited
something they love and I’m excited about how the same data set can now be a
about how the same data set can now be a
about how the same data set can now be a scientific and analytical material and a
scientific and analytical material and a
scientific and analytical material and a cultural artifact and the souvenir of an
cultural artifact and the souvenir of an
cultural artifact and the souvenir of an experience eliciting completely
experience eliciting completely
experience eliciting completely different responses in these different
different responses in these different
different responses in these different spaces and all of these responses are
spaces and all of these responses are
spaces and all of these responses are valid and valuable but really there’s a
valid and valuable but really there’s a
valid and valuable but really there’s a similarity between these two camps with
similarity between these two camps with
similarity between these two camps with data scientists on one side and the
data scientists on one side and the
data scientists on one side and the anoraks and artists or designers on the
anoraks and artists or designers on the
anoraks and artists or designers on the other while they both might work with
other while they both might work with
other while they both might work with data in different ways they’re both
data in different ways they’re both
data in different ways they’re both looking for truth and understanding
looking for truth and understanding
looking for truth and understanding either of their subject or themselves
either of their subject or themselves
either of their subject or themselves except for they’re using that truth to
except for they’re using that truth to
except for they’re using that truth to different ends now these interact
different ends now these interact
different ends now these interact tendencies of mine recently culminated
tendencies of mine recently culminated
tendencies of mine recently culminated in a project that I undertook with
in a project that I undertook with
in a project that I undertook with Georgia loopy an information designer
Georgia loopy an information designer
Georgia loopy an information designer based in New York we realized we both
based in New York we realized we both
based in New York we realized we both work with data using hand-drawn anorak
work with data using hand-drawn anorak
work with data using hand-drawn anorak esque approaches and so we decided to
esque approaches and so we decided to
esque approaches and so we decided to collaborate on a data and drawing
collaborate on a data and drawing
collaborate on a data and drawing project together as we lived on
project together as we lived on
project together as we lived on different continents we took this
different continents we took this
different continents we took this constraint as our biggest asset and we
constraint as our biggest asset and we
constraint as our biggest asset and we came up with a project we called ear
came up with a project we called ear
came up with a project we called ear data a year sending each other
data a year sending each other
data a year sending each other hand-drawn data postcards back and forth
hand-drawn data postcards back and forth
hand-drawn data postcards back and forth across the Atlantic starting on the 1st
across the Atlantic starting on the 1st
across the Atlantic starting on the 1st of September 2014 and lasting a year
of September 2014 and lasting a year
of September 2014 and lasting a year every week we gathered data around a
every week we gathered data around a
every week we gathered data around a shared topic in order to investigate
shared topic in order to investigate
shared topic in order to investigate aspects of ourselves in our days to then
aspects of ourselves in our days to then
aspects of ourselves in our days to then share with the other person and then at
share with the other person and then at
share with the other person and then at the end of the week we’d spent time
the end of the week we’d spent time
the end of the week we’d spent time analyzing that data and then we would
analyzing that data and then we would
analyzing that data and then we would painstakingly draw our visualizations
painstakingly draw our visualizations
painstakingly draw our visualizations and their annotations on a postcard and
and their annotations on a postcard and
and their annotations on a postcard and once we were finished we would drop the
once we were finished we would drop the
once we were finished we would drop the postcard in our mailbox or post box and
postcard in our mailbox or post box and
postcard in our mailbox or post box and wait with our fingers crossed and if all
wait with our fingers crossed and if all
wait with our fingers crossed and if all went well the postcard would arrive at
went well the postcard would arrive at
went well the postcard would arrive at the other person’s address and we’d sit
the other person’s address and we’d sit
the other person’s address and we’d sit down with the postcard and live the
down with the postcard and live the
down with the postcard and live the other’s life through reading their week
other’s life through reading their week
other’s life through reading their week compressed between two sides of paper so
compressed between two sides of paper so
compressed between two sides of paper so a few examples from the year include a
a few examples from the year include a
a few examples from the year include a week of capturing every time we said a
week of capturing every time we said a
week of capturing every time we said a rude word or a
rude word or a
rude word or a week of trying to capture our laughter
week of trying to capture our laughter
week of trying to capture our laughter and almost impossible pursuits or we
and almost impossible pursuits or we
and almost impossible pursuits or we gather data about our bad habits like a
gather data about our bad habits like a
gather data about our bad habits like a week of our envy and we’d also survey
week of our envy and we’d also survey
week of our envy and we’d also survey parts of our lives for the other like in
parts of our lives for the other like in
parts of our lives for the other like in this week of our book collections we
this week of our book collections we
this week of our book collections we mainly explore themes requiring manual
mainly explore themes requiring manual
mainly explore themes requiring manual data collection we’re like in baseball
data collection we’re like in baseball
data collection we’re like in baseball scoring the main pursuit was to use data
scoring the main pursuit was to use data
scoring the main pursuit was to use data capture to make sense for ourselves and
capture to make sense for ourselves and
capture to make sense for ourselves and be present and also to create a souvenir
be present and also to create a souvenir
be present and also to create a souvenir to send to the other person halfway
to send to the other person halfway
to send to the other person halfway through the year we made the project
through the year we made the project
through the year we made the project public and the amazing response we
public and the amazing response we
public and the amazing response we received made us realize that our anorak
received made us realize that our anorak
received made us realize that our anorak approach resonated with a wider audience
approach resonated with a wider audience
approach resonated with a wider audience where people would describe their data
where people would describe their data
where people would describe their data using words that are normally not
using words that are normally not
using words that are normally not associated with data and where data is
associated with data and where data is
associated with data and where data is being described as something warm
being described as something warm
being described as something warm instead of something cold and we also
instead of something cold and we also
instead of something cold and we also received emails from people starting
received emails from people starting
received emails from people starting dear data correspondence projects of
dear data correspondence projects of
dear data correspondence projects of their own or who are using it as part of
their own or who are using it as part of
their own or who are using it as part of their teaching materials for all ages
their teaching materials for all ages
their teaching materials for all ages from primary school to university and
from primary school to university and
from primary school to university and beyond to help students learn to collect
beyond to help students learn to collect
beyond to help students learn to collect and present data we’ve been excited
and present data we’ve been excited
and present data we’ve been excited about how our personal project became a
about how our personal project became a
about how our personal project became a community project a community of anoraks
community project a community of anoraks
community project a community of anoraks and this is something that we’re looking
and this is something that we’re looking
and this is something that we’re looking to expand upon as mentioned dear data
to expand upon as mentioned dear data
to expand upon as mentioned dear data originally started as a side project but
originally started as a side project but
originally started as a side project but then it was published as a book both in
then it was published as a book both in
then it was published as a book both in the US and in the UK and finally our
the US and in the UK and finally our
the US and in the UK and finally our original postcards and our preliminary
original postcards and our preliminary
original postcards and our preliminary sketch books were acquired by the Museum
sketch books were acquired by the Museum
sketch books were acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York this
of Modern Art in New York this
of Modern Art in New York this acquisition convinced us of the value of
acquisition convinced us of the value of
acquisition convinced us of the value of our analog design approach and I believe
our analog design approach and I believe
our analog design approach and I believe the project success is due to how it
the project success is due to how it
the project success is due to how it speaks the latent anorak tendencies we
speaks the latent anorak tendencies we
speaks the latent anorak tendencies we all have within us finally three dear
all have within us finally three dear
all have within us finally three dear data being an anorak has hopefully moved
data being an anorak has hopefully moved
data being an anorak has hopefully moved from something negative to something
from something negative to something
from something negative to something positive as Paola Antonelli MoMA senior
positive as Paola Antonelli MoMA senior
positive as Paola Antonelli MoMA senior design curator States when describing
design curator States when describing
design curator States when describing the project she says
the project she says
the project she says engaged conversation describes the
engaged conversation describes the
engaged conversation describes the future of our relationship with
future of our relationship with
future of our relationship with information and engage conversation is
information and engage conversation is
information and engage conversation is the right phrase where Georgia and I
the right phrase where Georgia and I
the right phrase where Georgia and I were able to better know each other and
were able to better know each other and
were able to better know each other and ourselves through this analog engaged
ourselves through this analog engaged
ourselves through this analog engaged act of keeping score of marking a year
act of keeping score of marking a year
act of keeping score of marking a year and so I asked the audience to look
and so I asked the audience to look
and so I asked the audience to look inward and acquaint yourself with your
inward and acquaint yourself with your
inward and acquaint yourself with your secret anorak and remember that this
secret anorak and remember that this
secret anorak and remember that this small imperfect data we all collect is a
small imperfect data we all collect is a
small imperfect data we all collect is a way of continually engaging with
way of continually engaging with
way of continually engaging with ourselves and the world around us and
ourselves and the world around us and
ourselves and the world around us and shouldn’t be ignored but offers immense
shouldn’t be ignored but offers immense
shouldn’t be ignored but offers immense value and how it helps us stay in the
value and how it helps us stay in the
value and how it helps us stay in the game of our lives thank you
game of our lives thank you
game of our lives thank you [Applause]
”
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