Dark Skies Data Visualization
skills: motion graphics / data visualization / vector graphics / research
To set the tone of the video, I chose a monochrome purple color palette and a simplified yet realistic graphic style. The dark colors and real life-inspired imagery suit the serious and scientific topic, which is balanced by the lightness of the warm palette and illustrative style.
For the data visualizations, the first step was determining which data were worth visualizing. Standalone numbers, like the points about how “80% of North Americans can no longer see the Milky Way from their homes” or “coral reefs are estimated to host as much as 1/3 of the ocean’s biodiversity,” were simply conveyed as text with thematic graphics since visualizing these data wouldn’t significantly change a viewer’s understanding. However, for points like the impact of ALAN on coral reproductive synchronization or turtle hatchling navigation that involved multiple numbers demonstrating change or comparison, I visualized these data since it would enhance the viewer’s understanding.
With the rapid in the use of electric lighting, especially outdoors, the increased artificial light at night (ALAN) has impacts on environmental and human health, energy use, and public safety. In my video on some of the environmental impacts of ALAN for a data visualization course, I chose data to convey the increase in ALAN, the importance of various organisms in their ecosystems, and ALAN’s impact on these organisms. In my motion graphics to visualize and accompany these data, I considered how I could stylistically convey the gravity of the issue without being sterile or dreary as well as how I could smoothly transition the viewer’s focus from one point to the next.