Data gamification for local water awareness

The water side of data

We are made of 70% water. Fresh water is only 3% of all the water on Earth, mostly stored in glaciers that are melting at an alarming rate.

Water is a precious resource. Taking care of it starts with being aware of our privileged position on this planet. That was the starting point of the project.

Let the data flow

From the beginning, we wanted to turn data into a fun and engaging experience: a data gamification that invites children and adults to reflect on water, through water, in a playful and easily replicable way.

A constraint that became the idea

Floats, taps, drippers, tanks and pipes: designing interactions with liquids always seemed complicated, until the breakthrough came.

We had to use materials provided by a plastics manufacturer sponsoring the event, a constraint that initially caught us off guard.

Everything changed when we saw the polycarbonate panels: perfect for showing columns of liquid data inside them, and for a participatory data physicalization built by the visitors themselves.

Participation matters

The result is a series of themed panels: one side shows data on a specific aspect of water, the other asks a question or quiz to guess a related fact.

Besides being playful and refreshing (it was July, after all), guessing sparked curiosity, prompted questions and encouraged reflection.

The facilitators were key: they guided participants through the experience and supported the conversations that followed.

Next steps

The project has high potential, both for impact and replicability. It can easily be adapted for schools, public events and many other contexts.

We are now designing the post-experience phase: how to build on the awareness gained during the event and turn it into concrete actions towards more responsible, informed consumption.

A topic people could touch with their hands?

Data becomes memorable when people build it themselves. Do you need to visualize your data too? We're here.