Data Garden Co. is a collective of creatives, technologists, educators, and data viz enthusiasts based in Australia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
We come together to learn and teach data and code through personal storytelling, and other radically human ways.
We come together to learn and teach data and code through personal storytelling, and other radically human ways.
We come together to learn and teach data and code through personal storytelling, and other radically human ways.
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We exist to facilitate a space for learning and experimenting with data visualisation and creative coding. Our priority is to build and share data knowledge.
We exist to facilitate a space for learning and experimenting with data visualisation and creative coding. Our priority is to build and share data knowledge.
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We believe data is complex and messy. The technical, precise nature of statistics and linearity of charts and graphs may present data as sterile and flawless, but data involves many human decisions, and therefore is bound to be imperfect and complex. More on this: Data Humanism by Giorgia Lupi
We believe data is complex and messy. The technical, precise nature of statistics and linearity of charts and graphs may present data as sterile and flawless, but data involves many human decisions, and therefore is bound to be imperfect and complex. More on this: Data Humanism by Giorgia Lupi
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We believe data is factual, but not neutral. Power imbalances lie within how data is collected, analysed, visualised and presented. Those with the tools and platform to tell a data (or any) story, yield power. We strive to advocate for data and information literacy to help individuals understand invisible power dynamics in both data and storytelling. More on this: Data Feminism by Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren F. Klein
We believe data is factual, but not neutral. Power imbalances lie within how data is collected, analysed, visualised and presented. Those with the tools and platform to tell a data (or any) story, yield power. We strive to advocate for data and information literacy to help individuals understand invisible power dynamics in both data and storytelling. More on this: Data Feminism by Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren F. Klein
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We believe data storytelling doesn’t always require the machine, but always requires the human.
We believe data storytelling doesn’t always require the machine, but always requires the human.
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We experiment with story and visual art as an entry way to learning data and code.
We experiment with story and visual art as an entry way to learning data and code.
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We care about how data informs human perception and behaviour – perception of themselves, other people, and the world around them.
We care about how data informs human perception and behaviour – perception of themselves, other people, and the world around them.
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We are especially interested in presenting the stories and uplifting the capabilities of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. So far in our work, this has included young women, and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
We are especially interested in presenting the stories and uplifting the capabilities of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. So far in our work, this has included young women, and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
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Complexity defines the data science process. We believe it’s important to embrace and represent diversity and intersectionality in data collection, data analysis, and data visualisation or communication methods.
Complexity defines the data science process. We believe it’s important to embrace and represent diversity and intersectionality in data collection, data analysis, and data visualisation or communication methods.
Note: This manifesto is a work-in-progress, and will undoubtedly evolve as we do, too. Your insights, revisions, and contributions is most welcome: hello@data-garden.co
Why we’re a collective
A collective is….
Non-hierarchical
We believe in participatory data storytelling, which involves shared power. Collectives operate in predominantly non-hierarchical structures, for both the sharing of knowledge and resources. (In Indonesian, this is known as lumbung.) Founders of our organisation, or leaders in our projects, also are not positioned as lone rangers. A decentralised model allows room for collective ownership.
We believe in participatory data storytelling, which involves shared power. Collectives operate in predominantly non-hierarchical structures, for both the sharing of knowledge and resources. (In Indonesian, this is known as lumbung.) Founders of our organisation, or leaders in our projects, also are not positioned as lone rangers. A decentralised model allows room for collective ownership.
Practice-based
We move away from a focus on ‘brand’ or exclusivity. We gather with the purpose of developing our craft and expanding our practice. Collectives have long been marked by community-led, practice-based initiatives in the arts. They publish books and journals in a commitment to building and sharing collective knowledge in their respective fields. In some ways, forming a collective is an act of art and culture preservation.
We move away from a focus on ‘brand’ or exclusivity. We gather with the purpose of developing our craft and expanding our practice. Collectives have long been marked by community-led, practice-based initiatives in the arts. They publish books and journals in a commitment to building and sharing collective knowledge in their respective fields. In some ways, forming a collective is an act of art and culture preservation.
Shared agency
Collectives exist not just for creative expression, which can be found through other platforms. They exist to gather enough resources and energy to sustain the creative practices found in a group of individuals. We enable artists, technologists, educators, and people from various fields to contribute to data-driven projects that excite us and compel us to improve our craft, because we believe data and storytelling can enrich many skillsets. This means allowing contributors and collaborators to act with agency and establish ownership over their work.
Collectives exist not just for creative expression, which can be found through other platforms. They exist to gather enough resources and energy to sustain the creative practices found in a group of individuals. We enable artists, technologists, educators, and people from various fields to contribute to data-driven projects that excite us and compel us to improve our craft, because we believe data and storytelling can enrich many skillsets. This means allowing contributors and collaborators to act with agency and establish ownership over their work.