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A few of you sent us the link to Dear Data this week — an intriguing project mixing information visualization with postcards and mail. We loved reading about it and thought we should share it with everyone!

Giorgia and Stefanie have a few things in common: they’re the same age, only children, love drawing and are both information designers. They live across the ocean from each other, but decided to embark on an adventure together: to send each other weekly postcards, depicting their weeks as data graphics!

Dear Data project

Each week has a loose theme, which they turn into an infographic. For example: counting the number of times they check themselves on a mirror, how much complaining they did or how often they picked up their phone… When the postcard is done, they mail it to each other!

Dear Data project - random postcards

Each card is unique and mysterious, urging you to check the legend on the back before having a second, closer look at the front image.

Sample postcard, from Stefanie to Giorgia

The result is really fascinating, an analytical yet intimate glimpse into Giorgia and Stefanie’s lives and the way they see and measure their world.

Sample postcard, from Giorgia to Stefanie

Right now there are 10 weeks of postcards posted on the website, and we’re already eagerly anticipating the next ones! What do you think they should measure next? And how would your week look like, if you gave it a try? :)

28 comments so far

CatharinaG3, Netherlands

Fascinating! The graphics look mysterious and sometimes funny. It's a great idea! Thanks for sharing this lovely story. :)

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Jaywalk, India

Brilliant. And super creative!

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olasko, Belarus

Really interesting thing and looks magically! Thank you Giorgia and Stephania!

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Luziaceleste, Brazil

a step ahead, superb, congrats!

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aberline, Australia

I would like to know a bit more about them, how they know each other and what got them started..ill check out the website!

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itsmeraincrystal, Philippines

This is so interesting! ^_^

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paicontea, Germany

WONDERFUL, THANK YOU!!

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jolo, Germany

WOW! anybody interested in doing a similar one-time exchange on an accorded subject?! just send us a message!

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SchneckenTochter, United States of America

And another way of injecting postcards that are not "postcards" into the Postcrossing mailstream! Hand-drawing graphics like these must take an immense amount of time though, I wonder if there is software that could help?

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Eftychia, Netherlands

Great idea!! as a data analyser and snailmail lover, I love it!!

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keldar5, Canada

Definitely a creative way to think outside the box.

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Miselka81, Canada

Amazing! I heard an interview with them on CBC radio, glad you also featured this here!

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rosenbusch, Germany

a creative idea and a little bit mysterious....

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Groucho, Spain

estoy interesado en esta linda historia.

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kugusch, Germany

fun and creative idea!
Other ideas:
-If they are smokers, the cigarettes smoked
-Food eaten: Color coding veggie, fruit, meat, dairy, candy etc.
- winter time: sneezes, caughs, tissues
- cups of coffee/tee consumed
- stamps bought/licked (old fashioned stamps)/glued (self-stick)
- how many times did they read their own name in a week
- how many times did they HEAR their own name in a week
Ok..now I have to go check the website. Thanks for sharing!

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lucymonty, United Kingdom

Great idea! They must have put a lot of work into this, what a lovely way to communicate :-D

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Traumkatzen, Germany

great idea

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ColorfulCourtney, Germany

Wow. Super-cool!

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pucky, Netherlands

fantastic, very interesting, great! I love it! So creative!

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Gummysandu, Sri Lanka

Extremely talented.. A great idea.. Keep it up!!

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huikit, Singapore

Really cool!

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mapa, Belgium

Funny to see, although I don't have such an informatic mind at all!

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kamikm, United States of America

How cool!!!

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YiliLoh, Malaysia

Very interesting! :)

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mysweetlife63, United States of America

Such fun, so creative, thank you!

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Dangab, Canada

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing!

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nugget, United States of America

Takes all kinds, I guess! Thanks for sharing this interesting story.

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dosankodebbie, Japan

What a cool idea. Maybe doing something like this would help me overcome my fear of mathematics.

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