How I transformed frequent flyers data into unique data portraits.

“Voyages of Wonder” is a gift from Miles & More to their most loyal clients. Imagine if every flight you took could create a unique shape, telling a story of your travels. That was the case for passengers whose journeys have been reimagined into a series of bespoke data portraits.

The process of turning data into art starts with numbers. In this context, each dataset is like a personal diary, an unopened letter containing moments to remember.

“My artworks will be entering the homes of many people, and I want these pieces to feel relevant and significant to their new owners. Not less importantly, I aim for each piece to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment.”

*Digital render of one artwork during the test phase.*

Someone once said that art is intentional making with unintentional outcomes. This holds true in every data-driven piece I do. While data visualisation tools can automate the process, I believe it is crucial to transcend the basic representation of data and connect with the viewer on an emotional level.

Transforming raw data into a meaningful story requires a deep understanding of the subject matter and a keen eye for detail. It is through this meticulous process that I am able to breathe life into the data and create something impactful and relatable.

Similarly, in “Voyages of Wonders" I sought to transform the mundane data of flight frequencies, destinations, and durations into abstract photographs. Each piece is a visual representation of its individual travel story.

“As I read the numbers, I translate these raw statistics into a language of forms and hierarchies.”

The Process

It all starts with numbers – a log of flights and destinations.

The transformation is a meticulous process, which I have precisely documented with sketches and video recordings. It is where intuition meets code and data visualisation conventions.

Each piece is customised based on individual passenger data, making no two pieces look the same.

Each line represents a flight route, with its size determined by the length of the route flown – the longer the line, the greater the distance from departure to arrival.

Then, I visualised frequency by adjusting the thickness of the lines – thicker lines represent routes that have been flown more frequently.

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The Generative Tool

The key factor that contributed to the success of this release was the custom generative tool created in collaboration with Francisco Estivallet.

*View of the custom tool.*
The custom-made tool interprets the data points to generate print-ready artwork quickly. This tool, called "VOW," not only streamlines the creative workflow but also ensures that each piece remains distinctive and true to the data it represents.

“When it comes to printing or installing my work, sustainability is a non-negotiable aspect. It was essential to strike the right balance between incorporating data and making each piece environmentally friendly for printing.”

Colour test featuring a rejected version of the visualisation. The more lines, the more routes were flown by a passenger.

Final Piece(s) And Packaging

Each unique art piece from the "Voyages of Wonder" series is carefully packaged in a custom box, accompanied by a hand-signed note. The artwork itself is signed, printed, and mounted on Aluminium Dibond support. The attention to detail in the packaging ensures that each customer receives a truly special and personalised experience when they receive their artwork.

The custom box not only protects the artwork during transit but also adds an element of anticipation and excitement as the recipient opens it to reveal their one-of-a-kind piece.