What makes me… me?
V28 – This Is Me and Only Me by Giorgia Lupi and Madeleine Garner
Secondary school students in the UK are increasingly being drawn to STEM subjects, with A level entries across maths, science, design and technology increasing by 6.7% in 2024. But how can the power of data be creatively harnessed earlier on to help children gain a deeper understanding of their own lives, and the lives around them?
This Is Me and Only Me does just that. Co-authored by information designer Giorgia Lupi and former preschool teacher, Madeleine Garner, the book introduces kids to the concept of personal data—what we notice, what makes us feel happy, sad or curious—and how these observations can be recorded using colours, shapes, and symbols.
Children are natural observers, and the book taps into their curiosity. Lupi shows that even the smallest details, such as the way you feel when you look at the stars or how your friends make you laugh, can become meaningful data points. Kids are encouraged to create their own data portraits, using observations to reflect on their emotions and experiences.
At the heart of the book is the concept of data humanism, a philosophy Lupi has long embraced as a way to connect data with human stories. Data humanism emphasises that data is not just something cold or detached, but something personal and rich with meaning.
In the book, Lupi continues her mission to make data accessible and relatable by showing children that what they notice about the world can help them understand more about themselves, and in turn, connect with others. As Lupi puts it, "everything we observe about the world around us can teach us something about who we are inside".
The book shows that data isn’t just about numbers, it can also be a tool for self-discovery, expression and storytelling.
AW Springboard
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