Exploring the Creative District of Perpetuo Socorro with José Duarte

For over 20 years, data has increasingly been called the "oil of the 21st-century economy." But what does it mean, in terms of opportunity access and wealth accumulation, when most people don’t understand what data is or where its immense power lies?

Devices like smartphones, smartwatches, and even refrigerators connected to the Internet of Things constantly collect information about our actions and feelings, mostly for commercial purposes. A company that knows us better than any friend is more effective at targeting ads to push us toward a single goal: purchasing.

Can we "claim" this data? Could we, as citizens, use all the information we generate daily to make better decisions for our well-being and the planet? For José Duarte, the answer lies in analog approaches. His visualization kit includes stickers, string, balloons, paper circles of various sizes and colors, modeling clay, and small wooden bars resembling Excel chart elements.

The kit is designed to make data analysis and visualization accessible in an intuitive and sensory way. It acts as a small-scale prototype of José’s decade-long work as a designer—creating playful experiences, often in public spaces, to spark discussions around environmental data.

"Today, everyone talks about data, big data, and data visualization. However, there’s still a lack of understanding of how to make data accessible to citizens so they can truly understand, embrace, and make informed decisions with it."

José came to Medellín with a challenge: help us better understand the Creative District of Perpetuo Socorro. What are the perceptions of its residents and passersby? With local university students, he designed and installed a series of citizen participation tools, gathering insightful data about the district and its community.