In 2024, a series of workshops were arranged for participants in the City Mission's leadership program "Power in da Hood," where young women aged 16 to 25 from the Norrköping districts of Navestad and Hageby participated.
Together with researchers from Linköping University, the participants tried methods to collect and visualize personal data, as a way to increase their knowledge, empowerment, confidence, and self-awareness.
At Visualization Center C, visitors can now create a digital flower that visualizes the activities they've engaged in over the past week, or mark their favorite place in Norrköping on a map.
"The exhibition is part of a larger research project exploring the question 'What is data in public communication and educational contexts'", explains Professor Miriah Meyer, who leads the Visualization and Interaction Design unit at the Department of Media and Information Technology.
Another important aspect of the exhibit is bridging research with society.
“We learned so much about what it takes to bring ideas and theories from our research to the public.” says Derya Akbaba, the PhD student behind the project. “It took us several months and iterative design to develop an exhibit that will represent the research ideas and engage the public.”
The researchers are interested in highlighting humanistic and critical perspectives on data —perspectives that view data as a product of processes, interpretations, and culture — in our way of thinking about what data is, who gets to produce it, and how we can use it.
"This last point is particularly interesting for us as visualization researchers because we want to explore new ideas about how we can use data for personal expression and interaction with others."
Aisha Ali, one of the young women participating in the project, says:
"Understanding more about yourself through creative exercises is interesting. When we collect data about ourselves, it creates interesting discussions about what you want and what is important in your life."
Martin Callmeryd from the City Mission also provides another perspective:
"This can be a way to tell your life story for those who find it difficult to talk or write."
Miriah Meyer, Derya Akbaba, and master's students Camilla Svensson and Claudia Torelli were responsible for the concept development, supported by Måns Gezelius.
Visualization involves showing complex, multidimensional contexts in a way that fits human visual senses. Images are created to simplify complicated matters or large amounts of facts/data.
"Power in da Hood" is an initiative by young women from the area to empower other young women and simultaneously give strength to change and develop socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. The project is run by the City Mission in the "Trygga Orten" initiative, funded by the Swedish Postcode Lottery and the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF). The City Mission in Östergötland works to support people living in socially and economically vulnerable life situations.
