Femke Bosman

Datafication

Data is becoming increasingly important in the world we live and work in. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand how algorithms work and their consequences.

Data plays an increasingly crucial role in various domains of our society. Big data refers to complex datasets, characterised by their large volume, great diversity, and the high speed with which they are collected, interpreted, and generated.

The abundance of available data reinforces the belief in the objectivity of big data as a comprehensive solution to societal issues. Decisions are increasingly generated by algorithms, with significant consequences. However, algorithms are shaped by human choices, existing systems, and social context. Data is inextricably linked to human interpretation, selection, and structuring.

The starting point of this visual final project is the overgeneralization of our identity. Datafication is the process by which human actions are transformed into data. Designers shape the invisible structures behind data, making the abstract tangible. Datafication shows how data is interpreted, selected, and also structured. The input results in a visual position in a grid, as a metaphor for a system within our society. Furthermore, the entered data also results in hypothetical consequences for our society. With the Datafication project, I want to make the viewer aware of the potentially indelible overgeneralisation that entering data leaves behind.