Happiness is the feeling we get when we meet up with people who matter to us. However, meeting up with friends and family this year has not been easy for us. This sketch is an attempt to recall the times we got together and the excitement we felt after each gathering. With the orbs being abstract representations of each of us, moving in our own space, then gathering and finally exploding with happy energy.
I have chosen this data set as I wanted to find out what makes people happy and to discover if there are correlations with the different variables measured across the countries. Through my data visualisation sketch, we compared and saw that there was a close relationship between social support and happiness. Therefore, I decided to showcase it in my visually interpreted data sketch to express the importance and the happiness that social support and bonds brings to our lives. This is especially relevant during this time of pandemic, where we are unable to gather like we used to. Giving hope that we might be able to have normal gatherings again.
Original data source
Visualise data: Instead of mundane rectangles graphs, I used ellipses to illustrate the data, and allowed them to overlap to enable clear comparison between variables. Interpret data: Visual elements used were mainly tiny orbs to represent people in motion and by toggling the animation it allows them to gather and disperse. I have intended the sketch to be able to toggle between states with motion as it would be able to convey the idea of gathering better.
Some of the issues I faced was trying to figure out how to apply the sliders to the sketch to allow users to scroll through and also overcoming the hiding of the labels when the graphs merged. However the toughest one was to enable the toggling between the states for the orbs coming together and exploding out, which I initially struggle with trying to do it with sliders but found controling the force values (0 - 10) with keyFunctions to toggle as the answer.
Many found the visually intrpret sketch with the same colour fonts and orbs hard to read, though I thought it was fairly ok with the help of the animation. Additionally, I initially had a sketch with text copy to explain the concept but my classmates pointed out that sketch could work with a little lesser explanation. While friends who have no context of this project found that it would help with a bit of introduction. With that, I found some middle ground and updated the design accordingly.
Showcasing Raw Data in Bar Graph.
Changing to Ellipse Graph to better Compare Data Set.
Adding a 3rd Slider to allow the collapse all the countries.
Horizontal Layout of the graph.
Vertical layout of the graph and color variation.
Sketch with particles seeking the Mouse.
Using Flocking to represent Social Bond with Cohesion slider.
Alternative sketch to represent happiness as fireworks.
Happy Bonds: User Testing (No Copy)
Happy Bonds: Fonts Attempt