VizChitra 2025

About

This talk explores how Exhibition Design can contribute to Information design by virtue of conceptualizing experiences to promote tangible data explorations. Through a data visualization project and a data collection experiment conducted at an academic conference, I expand upon the processes that were followed from the initial brainstorming stage until the final development of the visualizations for the printed report and the data collection experiment, retracing my steps in the project as an Exhibition Design student, highlighting my learnings and difficulties.

Context

India’s start-up ecosystem is thriving, with innovation at its core. However, while many start-ups emerge each year, only a small fraction receives both incubation and funding, highlighting a gap in support systems. Today, we have no shortage of data collection systems - large organizations employ teams to rigorously gather data, publishing detailed reports and academic journals to communicate findings at regular intervals. Amidst this structured research approach, can we create space for tangible and playful interactions with data?

The India Incubator Kaleidoscope 2024 published during the Summit Up event that was held at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore aimed to do just that. The findings from the report intend to advise policymakers to formulate useful recommendations for future ventures and impactful strategies for scalability and sustainability in the future. The report embraced visuals that not only communicated findings but also reflected the essence of an incubator’s spirit in today’s ecosystem.

The talk will highlight and expand upon the design rationale and the processes behind the two key deliverables:

1. Developing the visualization framework for the printed report.
2. Designing the mechanics for the data collection experiment conducted over two days

Takeaways

• Every specialization in the world of design comes with its own set of microprocesses within the larger, well‑known framework of the design process. How might we re‑examine these discipline‑specific microprocesses with the aim of adapting and incorporating them into other fields?
• Data visualization is arguably one of the few disciplines with immense potential for collaboration. How might we welcome more people into the field to nurture inter disciplinary projects?

Audience

For anyone open to relooking at the field of data visualization through different perspectives, contexts, and purposes. Right from a data visualization expert to a novice/enthusiast.

About me

My name is Arundathi Rajan. I am a final-year undergraduate student of Exhibition Design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. I look for stories everywhere I go, and storytelling has become a huge part of how I approach any given brief. Apart from the jargon, I’m curious to learn about almost everything under the sun and hope to start a design studio soon while also writing a book, making a movie, and opening an ice cream shop. The ice cream shop might take priority. I am currently in the process of finishing up my graduation project titled “Reimagining Interactions between Humans and Data” sponsored by the Ford Foundation Grant.