DataWagashi
Multisensory data experience for the planet
Inspired by Wagashi, the traditional Japanese confection art regarded as a microcosm of time, space and nature, DataWagashi is a new medium aiming to make data tangible, accessible and fun by blending taste, smell, touch, texture, and physical interaction into the vocabulary of data communication. DataWagashi sets that spotlight data-driven topics from glacier changes to carbon footprint and more. The process is driven by algorithmic design, community engagement and public exhibitions. DataWagashi harnessing new data perception to bring complex data to life, touching senses and emotions.
In year 2023, DataWagashi has captivated 300k+ impressions across online and in-person platforms. Our presence has been highlighted through invited talks, workshops, exhibitions, and tastings at Boston Design Week, NYCxDesign Festival, San Francisco Design Week,Cambridge Science Festival, MIT Museum, London Design Festival, HarvardUniversity, Northeastern University, New Balance and SXSW – where we were among the most popular and anticipated sessions.
Through these engagements, DataWagashi has opened up an opportunity for us to rethink how we can describe data-driven climate issues. By moving beyond the uninspiring conventional methods of infographics, it has expanded the horizon of data experience, prompted public participatory learning, and sparked greater interest towards the subject matters represented, curing the anxiety and fatigue of data preaching.
