Words for data

words, data, design

Jul. 23 – Transfer

Title

Activating words for data conversations: participatory annotation-based artefacts in local activism contexts

Abstract

Visualisation is the result of an authorial and political design process of making decisions. As data visualisations growth exponentially, as growth questions about what design can offer in explain, persuade, and tell stories. As a result of an unresolved issues, today the role of new citizen has taken a largely leading role on digitalised societies, as collaborative groups of people who work around common needs, seeking alternative answers of engagement and action in the civic sphere. Thus, data activism has positioned as a new practice that seeks new answers about democracy, power, and agency towards a more critical and participatory dialogue in data society. In addition, several software and app have emerged, which include new tools of visualisation -like annotation- for carrying out digital conversations in group environments, leaving tangible traces of perceptions of people as they interpret, use, analyse and discuss.

This study investigates the potential of annotation as a participatory tool within data activism contexts through citizens perceptions to assess civic engagement. In order of achieve this, a literature review has been conducted, focused on the meaning factors that may influence the reader’s perceptions around in a visualisation. Additionally, the review of practice allowed access to a large extent to undocumented knowledge about data-activism related projects as well as integrate a body of knowledge regarding annotation practices extensible to this research. This knowledge allowed us to understand the participatory nature of annotation and its meaning-making role in order to explore the extent to which it can facilitate civic engagement and contribute to the generation of alternative narratives within contexts of data activism.

Methodologically, this study will employ a qualitative approach with the objective of integrating participatory methods and tools to encourage dialogue, activate diverse lines of thinking, and elicit reflexive responses. The exhibition will serve as a field study location to actively involve the participants, utilizing participatory annotation-based artefacts by the participants as a research instrument to express their viewpoints and facilitate discussions. By employing these tools, the study aims to generate responses that traditional methods would be unlikely to trigger. The open and interpretable nature of these research tools will complement established qualitative research methods, such as semi-structured interviews or contextual interviews. Ultimately, the outcomes of this study will be able to inform research findings in information design practice.

Research aim

The aim of this study is to investigate how participatory annotation-based artefacts can foster meaningful conversations and engage the public in reflection about urban policy-making within an exhibition focused on the physicalisation of data.

Research objectives

1.To critically review literature and practice on aspects of meaning-making in typography and data visualisation, as well as instances of data physicalisation and novel annotation practice.

2.To identify the needs of decision-makers around urban policy-making causes that seek to counter the hegemony of information through alternative data-driven narratives.

3. To explore through participatory annotation-based artefacts how in-depth conversations can be activated and citizens engaged in instances of reflection in a context of data physicalisation.

4.To understand the scope for participatory annotation-based artefacts to engage citizens in the experience of data, enabling them to question, re-imagine and take action within their own contexts.

Research questions

To what extent can participatory annotation-based artefacts trigger meaningful conversations to engage citizens in urban policy-making conflicts and advocacy actions?

Secondary research questions:

  1. What are the factors and strategies to consider when designing a participatory practice focused on data physicalisation?
  2. How can we connect participants in new ways to data through playful instances of annotation-based participation?
  3. How do the needs of decision-makers and the opinions of participants influence the process of designing participatory annotation-based artefacts?
  4. How can annotation-based collaborative practices transform traditional activist discourse into a novel data-driven narrative experience, actively engaging citizens for advocacy purposes?

Methodology

In the methodology three key theoretical perspectives that will inform the proposed research will be introduced and briefly discussed, as well as contextualising the selected methods. Using practice-led research, a participatory action framework (PAR) will be used to define the practical work in relation to the audience. In addition, through a social semiotic lens, sense-making factors will be used to explore response and engagement factors.

The study employs a participatory action research (PAR) framework to address its research questions, using qualitative methods in three iterative phases following Swann’s PAR approach (2002) Plan-Act-Act-Observe-Reflect. The research design also incorporates Gray’s five characteristics of play (2013) to establish an enabling environment for participation. The methods are outlined in relation to the three phases of the research, with a final phase dedicated to dissemination and reflection.

References