Data as a Narrative and Experience
Understanding how our relationship with data is changing and what unfolds when data becomes narrative, experience, and expression.
Read the full design-case paper here.
This design case paper was born out of a long-standing curiosity I’ve carried since school, why do we all learn so differently, and why do some teachers or mediums resonate more than others? That personal question collided with the inspiring work of Giorgia Lupi, who humanizes data by turning it into stories, portraits, and even music.
Intrigued by how data could be more than charts and graphs, I dove into secondary research to explore how designers and technologists were transforming raw information into emotional, tangible experiences. From data-driven sculptures and personalized light installations to musical interpretations of train routes, I traced a fascinating shift: data was becoming narrative, intimate, and sensory.
Fig. 1. Nathalie Miebach’s sculptures made out of storms
Fig. 2. Brian Foo’s Light Reminders
This paper is still meaningful to me today because it shaped how I see design, not just as a tool for communication, but as a bridge between logic and empathy. It taught me that data, when treated with sensitivity and creativity, can move people just as much as a story or a song. That belief continues to influence my approach as a strategic designer: I strive to build experiences that are not just understandable but memorable, not just accurate but human. This paper was an early step in learning to balance structure with soul and that remains a guiding principle in my work.
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Anuja Kulkarni
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