Student showcase: How noise pollution affects economically disadvantaged communities
X30 – Noise Factory by Hangjie Cai
Our design team recently visited the London College of Communication’s graduate show and were impressed by the remarkable array of talent. The innovative projects of the MA Design for Data Visualisation course really stood out, especially Noise Factory by Hangjie Cai.
Cai, a multimedia designer, employs data visualisation to narrate how noise pollution disproportionately affects economically disadvantaged communities. Her work transforms layers of data into tangible, comprehensible forms. Cai crafted ‘noise slices’ from acrylic to represent soundscapes from five boroughs, and together these form a ‘data cube’.
Noise Factory highlights the strong link between wealth and environmental health, promoting a dialogue between affected communities and policymakers. It’s inspiring to see how design can help tackle understanding of real-world issues, and projects like Cai's remind us of the power of data communication to spark meaningful change.
Project Seagrass selected for AW Springboard 2024
Speaking of tackling real-work issues, we’re delighted to announce that Project Seagrass has been selected for the 2024 AW Springboard programme.
Seagrass meadows are diverse and productive underwater ecosystems that are critical to all life on our planet. Project Seagrass aims to expand the data available by boosting participation in its citizen science initiative, SeagrassSpotter. At the same time, the project strives to educate on the vital global role of seagrass ecosystems, and actively address threats in areas where these meadows are found.
The team will receive design support from Applied Works to better understand their audience and highlight the most compelling stories in the data. Together, we’ll work to generate creative ideas for maximum impact.
We're hiring: Midweight Developer
We're looking for a creative and adaptable developer to play a key part in creating meaningful digital products for our clients with the guidance of our senior team members. You will have strong web development skills, be keen to tackle new problems and technologies, and care about the details of design and user experience. As a team, we strive to deliver impactful, high-quality products and support each other by sharing our experiences and knowledge.
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