Arguably the biggest hurdle for the group within this project has
been figuring out how to merge the facts and figures of the Willow
Patterns data with creative techniques such as poetry, music and
sculpture. I know for me specifically, this has been difficult because
it is hard to see numbers and stats as anything other than graphs and
tables, which is how I have traditionally dealt with data.
To try
and find a way to decipher the data, and express it in a clear and more
creative way to the average individual, I turned, like always, to
Google. I had always been under the opinion that creative pursuits and
data belonged to two completely different spheres, where one revolved
around endless possibilities and the other was confined to numbers.
However, when conducting my Google search I discovered how wrong I was;
it appears that creativity and data are inexplicably linked. A creative
data strategist, Becky Wang claims that much of the creativity we see in the
media or books is reliant on data and numerical research (2013). In her
job, she is responsible for researching and collecting data for head
media agencies which are then turned into advertisements, billboards and
other marketing communications.
These agencies require her to collect
data on what their consumers are interested in or are attracted to. Once
this data is collected it is up to her to interpret the data and
determine what will work best in marketing communications. For example,
if a company’s data indicates that their consumers have a real interest
in innovation and technology, Becky decides whether using an ad with a
green screen or animation and graphics will be effective. “The end
product is always creative; revolutionary technology in adds, amazing
images or photos on billboards... but these things could never be
created without the data first” (Wang, 2013).
Similarly, authors
and filmmakers have to research and interpret data when embarking on a
new story. If the story has any non-fictional elements or is based on a
particular period or event, authors and filmmakers need to research to
ensure they are telling the story with a level of accuracy. This
research often requires interpreting data. However data can also be used
for inspiration. When an American writer of short stories was
formulating his next piece, he stumbled across data revealing the 300
most used words in the English language. This data became stimulus for a
poem he wrote within his next story (Webb, 2013).
With this in
mind, I believe it is now time to revisit the Willow Patterns data and
look closer at what the numbers and figures have to offer. By keeping an
open mind and focusing on what the data is actually telling us, as
opposed to just the physical numbers, we should be able to create some
diverse and unique representations of the Willow Patterns journey.
No comments:
Post a Comment