Overview
Data physicalization is emerging as an alternative approach fostering creativity to support people in understanding and managing data to increase agency and engage in collaborative research, as external representation and physical manipulation facilitate the cognitive load required for mental computations. This one-week workshop is aimed to provide an overview of data physicalization modalities and fabrication techniques from Fablab to represent personal information. Smart devices, digital tools and applications collect information able to describe people’s behaviour and daily life routines. By providing access to measurable information, the workshop aims to create awareness of the tangible impact of data in real life and encourage experimentation in physicalization techniques.
The aim of the activity is to promote the use of data visualization and physicalization as design practices supporting the exploration and understanding of underlayer information and complex phenomena.
The workshop takes place in the week of July 8-12 at the FabLab of the DACD campus of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Switzerland in Mendrisio. No previous knowledge is required. External students and professionals are welcome.
Program
During the first day, participants will be introduced to data physicalization and digital tracking practices of personal information. This includes a definition of what data is and how it might be useful in terms of design. This phase is meant to onboard participants on the concept of data, providing a critical perspective on tracking practices applied by technology. At the end of the day, participants will choose a database to work on. The database might refer to data that they know or do not know is already available on their devices. The second day is dedicated to the introduction of the machines and tools available at Fablab. Applicants will be introduced to the use of the laser cutter and engraver, 3D printer, AxiDraw and vinyl cutter. The second day ends with participants defining their ideas of physicalization. The rest of the week is left to prototyping with the support of tutors. Participants are requested to document their projects in order to formalise the process and share the knowledge by creating an open repository available for the design community working with data. In the end, everyone will present their result and the process applied to the dataset to obtain the artefact.
The workshop is sponsored by the Swiss Design Network and Spearhead project.
Tutors
Ginevra Terenghi is a collaborator at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) and PhD student at Brunel University London. She is working on participatory approaches based on data physicalization to promote women's agency in healthcare.
Antonella Autuori is a teaching and research assistant at the SUPSI Institute of Design. Her research focuses on framing new methodologies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and design, with emphasis on the educational dimension and the analysis of bias in AI.
Matteo Subet is a teaching and research assistant at the SUPSI Institute of Design and the MA in Interaction Design. His research interests are human-computer interaction with a focus on new technologies and physical computing, and AI-driven systems in educational practices.
Sofia Petraglio is a research assistant at FabLab SUPSI and SUPSI Institute of Design, having recently graduated from the Interaction Design Master of Arts program. Her focus lies in digital fabrication, employing it for design purposes and experimenting with various digital fabrication
processes to push creative boundaries.
Dates and Places
8–12 July 2024
SUPSI Campus
Via Flora Ruchat-Roncati 15, Mendrisio (Switzerland)
Language
English
Registration
Register from this link.
Notice: Max 20 Partecipants
Cost
Participation fee: CHF 50.
Registration is free for SUPSI students.
Promoters
MAS in interaction Design SUPSI maind.supsi.ch
Swiss Design Network swissdesignnetwork.ch
Spearhead Project (https://spearhead-amr.github.io/makeaware/)