The Mini Windy City
The Project
In the fall, I worked with Northwestern’s Knight Lab to design a data visualization project using projection mapping technology and techniques. The team came up with a prototype that portrayed energy usage in Illinois.
Process
To make this, we dabbled in software like Cinema 4D, Adobe After Effects, and Mad Mapper. Among other things, I contributed to the graphics of the first thirty seconds of the video, and we have the Segal Design masters students to thank for the laser-cut 3D model of the Chicago skyline.
Results
One thing we didn’t get to was integrating words or audio to describe the visuals. See below the text we would have included.
[0:13-0:22] "Gas lamps first flickered on in Chicago in 1850"
[0:24-0:33] "The first electric station sparked to life in 1888"
[0:38–0:47] "And nuclear power arrived in 1960"
[0:48-0:54] "Based on reports gathered by the Illinois Commerce Commission, Chicago’s energy profile looks like this"
[0:54-1:00] THE WORDS 'NUCLEAR', 'FOSSIL FUELS', 'RENEWABLES', AND 'OTHER' LISTED UNDER PROPORTIONATE PROJECTIONS
[1:00-1:06] "Every single street lamp, television set and coffee shop in the city is powered by one of these 4 sources"
[1:06-1:12] "The profile of the entire US looks somewhat different. Less nuclear, a lot more renewable."
[1:12-1:16] THE WORDS 'NUCLEAR', 'FOSSIL FUELS', 'RENEWABLES', AND 'OTHER' LISTED UNDER PROPORTIONATE PROJECTIONS
[1:16-1:22] "But more fossil fuels as well."
[1:26-1:32] "In 2017, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Announced a new energy initiative."
[1:32-1:38] "City buildings are to be powered by 100% Renewable Energy by 2025."
[1:38-1:44] "Even the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority and Chicago Park District are joining in–"
[1:44-End] "And hopefully setting the course for Chicago’s clean energy future."
[0:24-0:33] "The first electric station sparked to life in 1888"
[0:38–0:47] "And nuclear power arrived in 1960"
[0:48-0:54] "Based on reports gathered by the Illinois Commerce Commission, Chicago’s energy profile looks like this"
[0:54-1:00] THE WORDS 'NUCLEAR', 'FOSSIL FUELS', 'RENEWABLES', AND 'OTHER' LISTED UNDER PROPORTIONATE PROJECTIONS
[1:00-1:06] "Every single street lamp, television set and coffee shop in the city is powered by one of these 4 sources"
[1:06-1:12] "The profile of the entire US looks somewhat different. Less nuclear, a lot more renewable."
[1:12-1:16] THE WORDS 'NUCLEAR', 'FOSSIL FUELS', 'RENEWABLES', AND 'OTHER' LISTED UNDER PROPORTIONATE PROJECTIONS
[1:16-1:22] "But more fossil fuels as well."
[1:26-1:32] "In 2017, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Announced a new energy initiative."
[1:32-1:38] "City buildings are to be powered by 100% Renewable Energy by 2025."
[1:38-1:44] "Even the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority and Chicago Park District are joining in–"
[1:44-End] "And hopefully setting the course for Chicago’s clean energy future."
Narrative contributions by Theo Chryssos