Q: Ting Fang Cheng, thank you for taking the time to interview today. Can you briefly introduce yourself and the project Happy Data?

A: I am a data visualization designer at Pentagram, working on Giorgia Lupi’s team. The Happy Data project was launched in May 2020; at the time, New York City was in lockdown and residents were told to isolate themselves at home. Our team came up with an idea to display a series of uplifting and hopeful views of the world through data and drawings to provide optimistic news and help people cope with self-isolation and all the challenges it presented.

Q: Can you tell us what makes Happy Data unique? What was your role as the lead data visualization designer for the project?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, news organizations around the world reported on the statistics and numbers concerning COVID-19; infographics and articles detailing the total cases and deaths around the world were abundant. We found that being bombarded with this info daily makes it difficult for the general public to keep a sense of optimism, so we wanted to present data in an encouraging way to instill some optimism. My role was to transform data sets of good news at the time into relatable and empathetic diagrams. The way that data is presented often can appear rational and heartless, so to reach our goal for the project, I believed that presenting the data in a humanistic manner would be more engaging with the audience.


@ photo by Pentagram.

Q: You mentioned that presenting the data in a humanistic manner would be more engaging with the audience. Can you explain a little more about how to present data in a humanistic way?

A: Data visualization is often seen as a way to present info in a technical manner, but it can be utilized to tell stories as well. Presenting data in this relatable and emotional way can help the audience engage with it on a deeper level. Relatable stories and experiences are a great place to explore data; for example, as a New Yorker, I am often moving to a new apartment and adapting to a new environment, so I thought it would be a good project to document and observe my living space. When I was pursuing my Master's degree at Parsons, I collected data from my room, and interpreted it to produce the project “My Room”. The goal was to use data visualization to discover the aesthetics of daily life. I modeled my apartment and represented my daily routine with colors and lights, and through this project I was able to explore the relationships between humans and their living space, and present it in a relatable manner.



Q: Do you think data visualization will change how we approach visual communication?

A: For sure. I am always looking for inspiration to create non-traditional visual models that resonate with the audience. One of my projects that explored this concept is "The Patchwork of Fall"; the goal of this project was to redesign the traditional fall foliage map and to create a patchwork of color with the data that was presented. The color combinations and iterations of fall foliage reminds me of a beautiful quilt created by nature, so I wanted to represent that visually through the data that was presented in nature. In presenting the foliage map in this manner, I hope my audience will connect with nature in a new way.





Q: How did you form this philosophy of telling stories through data visualization, and how does it guide you through your career?

A: I have a background in art design in addition to data visualization design. Previously I worked in exhibition design and curation, and that experience influences my belief that data can be used as a medium for visual design and storytelling. I would say data is not limited to print or digital dashboards; it has the potential to be presented in a physical format where the audience can observe and experience the medium in different ways. Currently, I am working on a wide range of topics at Pentagram such as climate change, social justice, gender equality, and more. These topics are very human issues, and I hope to continue working on and presenting projects regarding these subjects in the future.

You can learn more about Ting Fang Cheng by visiting tingfangcheng.com