This project was inspired by the Dear Data postcard and our class discussion on data humanism. I began by tracking personal data around myself for a week, then developed the project over three weeks—from handwritten sketches to a digital version using Figma.
For the original postcard version, I was inspired by the concept of a mobile sculpture—something that tries to stay balanced, just like I try to balance my anxiety both mentally and physically. I tracked not only the events but also the causes and other emotional details, which I wrote on the back of the postcard.
After sharing it in class, I received feedback from my professor and classmates that some elements—especially the timeline and specific details—were confusing. Based on their input, I refined the design digitally.
My therapist also gave me valuable insight during this process. After tracking my thoughts for a week, I went to therapy, and one thing he said really stayed with me: “Can you try putting your thoughts on a shelf and pulling them out when you need them, so they don’t overwhelm you?” I translated that into my design by imagining each moment as stored in a container.
The digital version reflects this idea. I used gradients to represent the emotional journey: red tones start from the inside of the box, representing internal/mental experiences, while blue tones come in from the edges, representing physical experiences. This version is easier to read than the original postcard, though still complex—so I added clear labels for every symbol at the bottom to help viewers take their time and understand it.
