In the Museum of Modern Art’s latest video, information designer Giorgia Lupi offers a compelling insight into how data can transcend numbers to tell deeply personal stories. With her innovative approach to data visualization, Lupi transforms complex datasets into meaningful narratives that connect directly to human experiences. This approach takes center stage in her journey with long COVID, where she used data not only to manage uncertainty but also to create art.
Redefining Data as Personal Expression
For many, data can seem overwhelming and impersonal, but Lupi reframes it as a creative tool for communication and introspection. Her work emphasizes that data represents real lives and experiences. This perspective is exemplified in her “Dear Data” project, a collaboration with designer Stephanie Posavec. Over the course of a year, they exchanged hand-drawn postcards visualizing everyday occurrences, revealing the rich stories hidden in mundane details.
A Personal Journey Through Long COVID
Lupi’s exploration of data became particularly poignant during her experience with long COVID. Starting in March 2020, she began meticulously tracking her symptoms, treatments, and daily activities in a spreadsheet. This practice provided structure during a time of chaos, allowing her to find patterns and regain a sense of control. The culmination of this effort was her visual opinion piece in The New York Times, where she used vibrant brushstrokes and symbols to depict four years of chronic illness.
Her artwork, blending data with aesthetics, offers an intimate look at the daily reality of living with a chronic condition. By turning data into a painting, she highlighted not only the struggles but also moments of progress and hope.
Making Data Accessible to All
Lupi encourages everyone to explore personal data collection, even for a short period. She suggests tracking aspects of life that often go unnoticed, fostering a deeper awareness of everyday patterns and experiences. By doing so, data becomes less about numbers and more about understanding ourselves.
Learning from Giorgia Lupi’s Approach
The video concludes with a broader invitation to view data as an extension of human stories. Through platforms like MoMA’s free Coursera course, “Artful Practices for Well-Being,” viewers can integrate these principles into their own lives, merging creativity with mindfulness.
Lupi’s work exemplifies the power of data to illuminate the human experience, transforming it from an abstract concept into something personal and relatable. By shifting our perspective, we can discover new ways to engage with the world around us through the lens of design and storytelling.