Google has partnered with designers to create art from its massive cache of data and, in the process, bring insight to the surface that might otherwise go unnoticed.
In 2015, the search engine began Google News Lab, an initiative to share its trove of information with the public by creating data tools for journalists.
Now, Google News Lab is partnering with artists to experiment with their data, Fast Co. Design reports. While the ultimate goal to advance data journalism and develop innovative formats to present visual information, the experiment has produced some mesmerizing projects that are, by themselves, art.
The subject matter touch on matters pertaining to all walks of life. “The Rhythm of Food” breaks down patterns of food searches—often with annotations to describe why interest peaked in a year, season, or holiday.
“Beautiful in English,” which explores the words most often translated into English from other languages, is a recent project by Nadieh Bremer. Her colleague Shirley Wu dove into travel destinations with “Adventure is Out There!”
Google might have discovered the right formula. Using artists for reporting helps humanize the information and makes it less intimidating—not to mention, stunning.
—RealClearLife
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