Abstract
Air pollu9on is both largely invisible and extensively monitored, making it a data-intensive issue that presents significant challenges for public engagement. Its abstract and oSen intangible nature makes it difficult for people to relate to or understand. Designers can play a role by transforming abstract (air pollu9on) data into tangible, context-sensi9ve ar9facts –a prac9ce known as data physicaliza9on. This paper introduces “airing” as a design approach to situated data physicaliza9on. Rather than relying on detached design approaches, airing argues for situated, real-world engagement with data. Airing data through materiality highlights the ac9ve role of materials in embedding data within the physical and social contexts from which it emerges. Using a research-through-design methodology, this study draws on case studies and reflexive analysis, comparing them with exis9ng research on the same cases and relevant literature. The aim is to examine how design decisions – par9cularly those concerning materiality– inform and shape design approaches in the prac9ce of situated data physicaliza9on. This paper contributes to the growing discourse on data physicaliza9on by offering prac9ce- based insights into how design can reconnect data with the lived reali9es it seeks to represent.
Keywords
Situated Design; Data Physicaliza9on; Material Engagement; Air Pollu9on
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.899
Citation
Piscaer, A., Vrancken, K., Leuven, K., Claes, S.,and van Dartel, M.(2025) Airing Data through Materiality: a Situated Design Approach to Data Physicalization, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.899
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 6 - Co-creation
Airing Data through Materiality: a Situated Design Approach to Data Physicalization
Air pollu9on is both largely invisible and extensively monitored, making it a data-intensive issue that presents significant challenges for public engagement. Its abstract and oSen intangible nature makes it difficult for people to relate to or understand. Designers can play a role by transforming abstract (air pollu9on) data into tangible, context-sensi9ve ar9facts –a prac9ce known as data physicaliza9on. This paper introduces “airing” as a design approach to situated data physicaliza9on. Rather than relying on detached design approaches, airing argues for situated, real-world engagement with data. Airing data through materiality highlights the ac9ve role of materials in embedding data within the physical and social contexts from which it emerges. Using a research-through-design methodology, this study draws on case studies and reflexive analysis, comparing them with exis9ng research on the same cases and relevant literature. The aim is to examine how design decisions – par9cularly those concerning materiality– inform and shape design approaches in the prac9ce of situated data physicaliza9on. This paper contributes to the growing discourse on data physicaliza9on by offering prac9ce- based insights into how design can reconnect data with the lived reali9es it seeks to represent.