In June 2017 I unveiled my newest interactive public art project: Living Infographics. The purpose of this one was to examine the daily commutes to work or school for Atlanta’s residents (specifically, visitors to the summer Root City Market).
In June 2017 I unveiled my newest interactive public art project: Living Infographics. The purpose of this one was to examine the daily commutes to work or school for Atlanta’s residents (specifically, visitors to the summer Root City Market).
Participants approached the project, and drew a piece of yarn from the glass that most closely represented their commute—usually we based this off of the length of time spent with each method. So, if you drive five minutes to a Marta station but spend 30 minutes on Marta, we’d consider you a public transit commuter.
This project is done through interactivity and collaboration – people tie string to different nodes on the board expressing their own information or opinions. In time, throughout the event, we build an actual infographic for everyone to see based on this feedback.
My favorite thing I love about these projects is how they continue to surprise me—there were so many people driving alone for a commute under 15 minutes. One guy smiled as he finished tying his on, and said, “I’m so lucky.” A French woman we talked to for awhile said she was disappointed that so many people with short commutes chose to drive. “Couldn’t they bike?”
Another thing that jumped out was a walking commute that lasted over an hour. Someone walks an hour to work every day? I wish I’d talked to them more about it.
