Workshop Overview (Abstract)

Data Stitching & Storytelling is a 2.5-hour workshop that invites participants into a data crafting activity that explores and visualises their surroundings and experiences in and around the MPavilion site. This workshop is hosted by The Data Garden Project in collaboration with MPavilion 10 as part of their MMeets Summer Program.

The data visualisation is done through a tactile medium of cross stitching and embroidery—not on screens—exploring how we can communicate data materially with a sense of creativity, experimentation, and play.

Participants: 12-15

Facilitators: 3-4

Learning objectives

• Participants are introduced to the principles of data humanism and storytelling

• Participants learn about the connected history of pattern-making and programming

• Participants learn about the creative process of data visualisation and data crafts

• Participants learn to track personal or environmental data using their sensory experiences, finding ways to relate to data personally

• Participants gain hands-on experience of representing and communicating data visually through a playful and tactile medium

Partnership objectives

• Widen the DGP’s educational capacity in delivering and developing workshop programs led and facilitated by young women

• Strengthen the DGP’s capacity to partner with institutions/organisations in the education, technology, or creatives arts space in and around Melbourne

• Build audience and community for both DGP and MPavilion’s public programming

Datasets

Two sets of data will be explored in this activity, combined into one visualisation.

• The first is a public dataset collected by The City of Melbourne titled *Urban Forest: Trees, with species and dimensions.* The dataset contains information on the age/maturity, location, and species of every tree planted in Melbourne.

  • We parsed this dataset to focus on the trees closest in proximity surrounding the MPavilion site, which totals to 18 trees located at the Queen Victoria Gardens.

• The second will be a personal dataset, collected through a sensory mapping activity. Here, we’ll invite participants to … to be continued: sound data, or sensory data, or identity

Visualisation

Each data will be visually represented through a series of lines, symbols, and shapes created using fabric, needles, threads, and embroidery hoops.

We provide participants with a “visualisation template” and walk them through the creative process of data visualisation and encoding data to visual variables. Participants are given the agency to choose what those variables are.

To be continued

Readings & Theory

Precedents

• [x] ***Data Crafting: Exploring Data Through Craft and Play*** by MIT Visualization Group

History

• [x] ***Pattern: Code by Ahre Lee - Weaving, coding, and the secret history of ‘women’s work’*** written by Evan Nicole Brown for Fast Company

• [x] ***The story of the Jacquard loom*** by Science and Industry Museum

• [x] MPavilion 10 Design by Tadao Ando

Event Planning & Preparation

• Delegation of team members

• Materials, sourcing

• Research, site visits

• Prototypes

• Worksheet, learning experience design

• Material (lesson)

Room Layout

• Location: MPavilion

• Table and seating arrangements

• Table layout for each participant

Agenda

• Activity 1: Introductions

  • What happened?

  • What was the aim?

  • What factors were at play? Resources used, etc.

  • What was the outcome? Findings from participants’ engagement and participation

  • What could be done better next time?

• ^This will repeat for 4-5 activities

Participant Outcomes

• Photo examples of finished or work-in-progress data stitches

Reflections

• What did we learn?

• What could be improved? What worked well and didn’t?

• How has this widened DGP’s capacity?

• How has this empowered community?

Credits and Acknowledgements