Overview
Energy Fields is an exhibition, publication, and series of public programs that explores time, space, and energy through gravitational waves, tectonic activity, and sensory phenomena. To support and promote the project, I took on the role to design its website, contextualizing the curatorial theme, presenting the works, and guiding the audience through each line of inquiry into different vibrational energies.
Research & Data Collection
As Digital Media + Marketing Coordinator, I recognized the exhibition’s academic and theoretical nature and the need to make its themes accessible to the general public. Collaborating with the curators, we decided to present the Pacific Rim’s vibrational activities - earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and weapon testing—through data visualization on an interactive map. Visitors could explore these events at their own pace, deepening their engagement.
Working with a researcher, we refined the large dataset they collected down to 152 significant events that represent major vibrational activity across the Pacific Rim and Oceania from the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 to the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption. We structured the information into key fields—year, location, magnitude, and impact—forming the foundation of the data visualization.
Visual Design
Publication design by Set Margin
Prior to the web project, the curators commissioned a catalog design for the exhibition. To maintain visual coherence, I built upon this foundation, adapting its elements into a style guide for the website. While the publication was visually stunning, many design choices posed accessibility challenges in a web format. For instance, the custom typeface, Vibration, was only legible at large sizes. In my designs, I ensured that decorative elements were used sparingly, balancing aesthetics with readability for an accessible and intuitive user experience.
Map + Data Visualization
Data visualization references
Publication design by Set Margin
Through wireframing and prototyping, I developed the website layout and collaborated with the engineer to explore possibilities for data mapping and visualization. We researched existing websites that incorporate interactive maps, such as Queer Maps, to assess feasible design and engineering solutions within our timeline and technical capacity.
The final design merges elements from the catalog and website style guide, featuring a historical, atlas-inspired style for the Pacific Rim map. Users can filter events by year and type, visualizing vibrational activities across the region in an intuitive and engaging way.
