The Collaborative data portrait is a participatory activity where participants create a visual representation of the group using personal data, preferences, and habits through a shared graphic language. Each person represents their information with predefined shapes, colors, and patterns, allowing for the identification of similarities and differences within the group.
This activity promotes introspection, collective analysis, and the exploration of individual and group identities. It can be applied in educational, community, and organizational settings.
Preparation
- Define the purpose of the activity:
- Explore individual and collective identities through a shared visual representation.
- Encourage reflection on experiences, backgrounds, and preferences within the group.
- Create a common visual language for self-expression and data comparison.
- Prepare materials:
- Sheets with a reference template to ensure uniform representation.
- Markers and colored pencils.
- A table with predefined visual codes to represent the data.
- For virtual participation:
- Use collaborative platforms to design data portraits.
- Share a visual reference table in a document or digital board.
Step-by-step instructions
- Introduction to the activity
- Explain that each participant will represent data about themselves using predefined graphic elements.
- Show the visual code table and clarify its meaning.
- Building the data portrait
- Each participant completes their template following the established guidelines.
- Start with basic data and gradually move towards more personal aspects.
- Ensure everyone follows the same visual system for easy comparison.
- Sharing and analyzing
- Participants compare their portraits in small groups.
- Identify patterns and differences in the represented data.
- Discuss insights gained from the visual data.
- Synthesis and closing
- Create a collective visual composition by combining individual portraits.
- Reflect on what the data reveals about the group.
Simple examples of data representation
- Demographics: Represented by a circle of different sizes according to age. (Small = under 20, Medium = 20-40, Large = over 40).
- Geographic location: Background color based on region of origin. (Blue = North, Green = Central, Yellow = South).
- Cities visited: Number of dots around the portrait. (1-3 dots = few cities, 4-6 dots = several cities, 7+ dots = many cities).
- Main language: Type of line at the base of the portrait. (Straight line = Spanish, Curved line = English, Dotted line = Other language).
- Number of siblings: Represented by small triangles next to the portrait. (1 triangle = 1 sibling, 2 triangles = 2 siblings, etc.).
Examples of representation areas with visual guides for capturing data
Sustainability and Environment
- Diet: Omnivore (blue circle), Vegetarian (green circle), Vegan (yellow circle)
- Waste management: I recycle regularly (green circular arrow), I compost (brown wavy line), I avoid single-use plastics (crossed-out black rectangle)
- Energy consumption: I use renewable energy (orange sun), I try to reduce my consumption (blue downward line), I do not take specific measures (gray straight line)
- Mobility: I use public transportation (blue dashed line), I bike or walk regularly (green continuous line), I frequently use a car (red straight line)
- Sustainable fashion: I buy second-hand or swap clothes (green circle with a triangle inside), I prefer eco-certified brands (two parallel green lines), I do not focus on sustainability in my clothing (gray dashed line)
Health and Social Well-being
- Physical activity: I regularly exercise (red star), I walk or stay moderately active (blue curved line), I do not engage in frequent physical activity (gray straight line)
- Sleep hours: More than 8 hours (solid blue circle), Between 6-8 hours (empty yellow circle), Less than 6 hours (red circle with a line inside)
- Stress management: I practice meditation or mindfulness (blue spiral line), I exercise or engage in recreational activities (green zigzag line), I have no clear strategies for reducing stress (black broken line)
- Diet and healthy habits: I maintain a balanced diet (green wavy line), I sometimes watch my diet (yellow dashed line), I do not follow a specific diet (gray straight line)
- Socialization: I frequently attend social events (three dots connected by lines), I socialize occasionally (two curved lines connected), I prefer individual activities (isolated straight line)
Education and Learning
- Preferred learning method: I learn best with visual materials (three fanned lines), I prefer listening and debating ideas (double curved line), I like hands-on learning (ascending zigzag line)
- Frequency of knowledge updates: I read and study regularly (yellow circle with a line inside), I seek information only when needed (blue dashed line), I do not actively update my knowledge (gray straight line)
- Use of technology in learning: I use digital tools for learning (blue line with two dots), I prefer physical or in-person materials (black continuous line), I have no preference (gray dashed line)
- Continuous learning: I frequently take courses (two parallel ascending lines), I occasionally participate in training (short zigzag line), I do not engage in additional learning (descending straight line)
- Interest in new knowledge: I am motivated to learn new things (solid blue circle), I only learn about specific topics (empty yellow circle), I am not interested in additional learning (red circle with a line inside)
Organizational and Business Management
- Leadership style: Democratic (blue circle with a line in the middle), Directive (black straight line), Collaborative (two V-shaped lines)
- Decision-making: Data-driven (blue dashed line), Intuitive (red curved line), Consensus-based (two crossed lines)
- Teamwork: I prefer working in teams (solid blue circle), I like a balance between teamwork and individual work (empty yellow circle), I prefer working alone (red circle with a line inside)
- Time management: I plan and organize in advance (three ascending parallel lines), I adapt as needed (green curved line), I work without specific planning (descending straight line)
- Conflict resolution: I seek dialogue-based solutions (blue dashed line), I avoid conflicts when possible (red curved line), I confront conflicts directly (black straight line)
Civic and Social Engagement
- Community involvement: I actively participate in my community (green circle with a line inside), I engage occasionally (blue dashed line), I do not take part in community activities (gray straight line)
- Volunteering: I volunteer regularly (two parallel green lines), I have participated in volunteering occasionally (short zigzag line), I have not volunteered (descending straight line)
- Interest in politics and governance: I actively follow political topics (solid blue circle), I stay informed occasionally (empty yellow circle), I am not interested in politics (red circle with a line inside)
- Environmental awareness: I engage in environmental causes (green spiral line), I take some measures to reduce my impact (blue curved line), I do not focus on environmental issues (gray straight line)
- Participation in social activities: I organize and lead activities (blue circle with a star inside), I actively participate but do not organize (empty yellow circle), I do not usually participate (red circle with a line inside)
Variations to enrich the activity:
- Layered format: Instead of using a single sheet, participants create a composition with transparent paper layers representing different data sets.
- Data rotation: In each round, participants exchange sheets and add their interpretation of someone else’s data.
- Interactive drawing: Each person presents their portrait, and others can add visual details or comments.
- Dynamic representation: Instead of static visuals, graphical elements are combined into a digital animation.
- Digital exploration: A design software is used to transform portraits into an interactive infographic.
