Thursday, July 9, 2026, 12:30-14:00
Online
Organizer:
Federica Fragapane
Data visualization can be understood as a way to capture and communicate complex aspects of reality, whether hidden, overlooked, or already visible but difficult to interpret. It can help make complexity readable without reducing it, engaging with subjects that are multidimensional and often irregular. Through the languages of visualization, data is organized into forms that make patterns and structures perceptible.
The use of the term "languages" in the plural reflects the multiplicity of approaches within data visualization. As in verbal
or written communication, different visual languages can be mobilized depending on the nature of the subject and the intention
of the work, ranging from highly structured and technical representations to more fluid and organic forms.
This plurality is particularly relevant when communicating complex social and scientific topics. Data visualization can act
as a form of mediation, making intricate information more accessible without reducing its complexity, and enabling engagement
across different audiences.
When working with data connected to living beings and social realities, visualization can move beyond rigid structures to
explore forms that suggest a sense of living presence, making visible aspects of data that are otherwise difficult to articulate.
Aesthetic choices are not simply refinements: they represent an invitation to reading and to spending time with complex information.
The talk will present a series of case studies across research, institutional, and editorial contexts, showing how different
approaches respond to different types of data, contexts, and needs. It will also introduce practical resources, tools, and
references to support researchers and practitioners in integrating data visualization into their analytical and communicative
practices.
Key takeaways:
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Data visualization as a set of languages each with its own logic and expressive range for making multidimensional phenomena readable without reducing them.
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Data visualization as a flexible practice, where different approaches respond to different types of data, contexts, and needs across research, institutional, and editorial settings.
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Aesthetic choices as functional tools, guiding attention and inviting engagement with data and information.
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Practical resources, tools, and case studies to support researchers and practitioners in integrating data visualization into their work.
Links:
Biography
Federica Fragapane is an independent information designer who has created data visualization projects for the UN, WHO, EU Publications Office,
BBC, Scientific American, Google, Triennale Milano, and La Lettura (Corriere della Sera). In 2023, three of her data visualizations entered the permanent collection of MoMA, New York.
She has been a guest lecturer at Harvard University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the Royal College
of Art in London. Her work adopts an experimental approach, selecting visual languages to invite readers to explore the stories
told by data.