Short answer
Involve the community directly in the design process of data visualizations, especially for sensitive local issues, to ensure relevance and impact.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- arXiv (Cornell University) (2020)
- Method
- Participatory Action Research and Design Study
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Designing data visualizations collaboratively with a community can make complex environmental data more accessible and actionable for non-expert stakeholders. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in arXiv (Cornell University). Using Participatory action research and design study, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Involve the community directly in the design process of data visualizations, especially for sensitive local issues, to ensure relevance and impact.
Community-Driven Data Physicalization Enhances Local Environmental Awareness
Designing data visualizations collaboratively with a community can make complex environmental data more accessible and actionable for non-expert stakeholders.
arXiv (Cornell University) · 2020
Key Findings
- 01A community-based, physical data display (Chemicals in the Creek) was successfully co-created.
- 02The physicalization facilitated engagement with complex environmental data for local residents.
- 03Participatory Action Research was effective in empowering the community and making data relevant.
Application
Design takeaway
Involve the community directly in the design process of data visualizations, especially for sensitive local issues, to ensure relevance and impact.
How to apply
When working with public or community data, initiate a participatory design process to create physical or situated visualizations that resonate with local concerns and knowledge.
Project actions
- 01Identify a local issue with available data.
- 02Engage the community early and often in the design process.
- 03Consider physical or situated representations for data.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Longitudinal design study (two years).
- +Employed multiple research methods (workshops, observation, interviews).
- +Focus on a specific, relevant community issue.
Limitations
The complexity of co-design can be time-consuming. Ensuring representation from diverse community members can be challenging.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is strengthened by its long duration and mixed-methods approach. Reliability could be enhanced by standardizing interview protocols and ensuring consistent observation techniques across different community members.
Think critically
How might the 'power-aware' aspect of the visualization design be further developed to address potential imbalances in community influence during the co-design process?
Design Principles
"Data visualization should be contextually relevant, physically situated, and co-designed with the intended audience to foster understanding and agency."
This approach moves beyond abstract data representation to create tangible, context-specific tools that empower communities to understand and engage with information directly affecting their environment. It highlights the value of participatory design in bridging the gap between raw data and community understanding.
What This Means for Your Design
If you want people to understand data about their local area, like pollution levels, it's best to work with them to create a physical display that they can see and interact with, rather than just showing them charts on a screen.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of user research and co-design in making data accessible.
- 2.Use the findings to justify the use of physical or situated data representations in your design project.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The study 'Chemicals in the Creek' by Perovich, Wylie, and Bongiovanni (2020) highlights the effectiveness of community-driven data physicalization in enhancing local environmental awareness. By employing participatory action research, the project successfully transformed complex EPA data into an accessible, situated display, demonstrating that collaborative design processes are crucial for making open government data meaningful and actionable for non-expert communities.
Source
arXiv (Cornell University)
Chemicals in the Creek: designing a situated data physicalization of\n open government data with the community
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about community-driven data physicalization enhances local environmental awareness?
- Involve the community directly in the design process of data visualizations, especially for sensitive local issues, to ensure relevance and impact. Evidence: arXiv (Cornell University) (2020).
- Why does "Community-Driven Data Physicalization Enhances Local Environmental Awareness" matter for design?
- This approach moves beyond abstract data representation to create tangible, context-specific tools that empower communities to understand and engage with information directly affecting their environment. It highlights the value of participatory design in bridging the gap between raw data and community understanding.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Involve the community directly in the design process of data visualizations, especially for sensitive local issues, to ensure relevance and impact.
- What were the main findings?
- A community-based, physical data display (Chemicals in the Creek) was successfully co-created.. The physicalization facilitated engagement with complex environmental data for local residents.. Participatory Action Research was effective in empowering the community and making data relevant.
- What research method was used?
- Participatory Action Research and Design Study.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from arXiv (Cornell University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When working with public or community data, initiate a participatory design process to create physical or situated visualizations that resonate with local concerns and knowledge.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on a specific community and environmental data set, so generalizability to other contexts may vary. The long-term impact and maintenance of the physicalization were not fully explored.