DIGITAL DATA SCULPTURE
Rhododatum
RBGE are building a positive future for plants, people and the planet.
They asked us to collaborate with Stefanie Posavec on a data visualisation project inspired by 110 years of collecting and cultivating the many varieties of Rhododendrons from around the globe.
OUR ROLES
Data processing
Design and visual development
Motion Graphics
110 years of data
Each form represents a species of Rhododendron. The stem is a time-line and the ‘petals’ represent information about collected samples or ‘accessions’ documented in the data set.
This artistic visualisation highlights some of the most threatened rhododendron plants in the RBGE’s Living Collection. This visual language allows for comparison between Rhododendron Red List species, indicating their health in the collection and their vulnerability around the globe, some of which are now extict in the wild.
Each species has a unique form based on its history in the RBGE collection.
Development
Data processing
Early design prototyping, looking at various ways to represent the data.
Prototype development
We created a 3D digital form that could visualise the information in the database.
Unique data sets
Each species of Rhododendron is represented by a unique data set.
Data legend
Shows the significance of elements in each form.
Data visualisation of garden records
Exhibition Video
At Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2022
CREDITS
Artist: Stefanie Posavec
Data Scientist: Alan Elliot
Design: Brendan McCarthy
Programming: Sam Healy
Commissoned and produced by: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
