COVID-19, Sleep & Mental Health
COVID-19's Effects on Sleep and Mental Health Illustrated Through Neuronal Storytelling.
View work on Graphis New Talent Annual 2022 website here↘
DATA VISUALIZATION
Challenge: I found that transitioning my hand-drawn sketches into a digital format posed a significant challenge during this project. My main struggle revolved around defining an illustrative style that both captured the essence of a neuron and provided the creative versatility necessary for effective data representation. After experimenting with various brush types in Procreate, exploring Photoshop effects, and refining illustration styles, I ultimately discovered the ideal combination of Photoshop and Illustrator effects that perfectly conveyed the desired aesthetic.
Step 3: Figure out an illustration style. How do you navigate readability, design, and visual interest? Below are some contenders that I abandoned.
Reflection
My role:
I executed all aspects of this individual project, including ideation, data analysis, visual design, and rendering, from start to finish.
Tools:
Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, Excel
The Final Result ↘
This project provided me with a rich learning experience in the integration of statistical data with compelling storytelling, allowing me to refine my ability to communicate complex information visually. One key takeaway is the importance of early experimentation with design elements to strike the right balance between creativity and data representation. In hindsight, I would have explored a broader range of illustration styles from the beginning to potentially discover alternative visual approaches.
Overview
What is the project goal?
In this project, I aimed to merge the art of storytelling with statistical data by utilizing a SleepCycle survey dataset to craft a visually engaging data visualization. The primary objective was to quantitatively depict the effects of COVID-19 on sleep and mental health across seven distinct age groups. I adopted a unique approach by symbolically representing the data through the organic form of a neuron, effectively bridging the gap between the comprehension of sleep and mental health dynamics, resulting in a captivating and intricate visual system.
View the complete SleepCycle Quarterly Report #1 2020 at https://www.sleepcycle.com/coronavirus/
Design Challenge ↘
How can we visually communicate the multifaceted impacts of COVID-19 on sleep and mental health across different age groups in an engaging and comprehensible way, using a neuron-inspired design approach?
Here’s my take ↘
Step 1: Create a mood board to draw inspiration for color, layout, and illustrative style
Step 2: Put pen to paper! Or in my case, stylus to screen. The goal was to be as imaginative as possible. There are no bad ideas…(yet).