When Healthy Diet isn't a Choice

Project timeline, goals and objectives

The main objective was to learn how to analyze and visualization data effectively through the use of code, design, and storytelling. The data was provided by the UN SDGS database.

This project was part of my master's program studio class and had a tight deadline of 2 weeks for analyzing data, designing visualizations, and developing them.

Motivations and Explorations

While browsing through the UN SGDS database, I came across a dataset on undernourishment by country, and was reminded of the healthy diet trend floating around on social media.

Through some research, I found out that the hashtag #healthydiet had gained 350 million views on TikTok. Anyone with access to Tiktok can be introduced to a variable selection of healthy diets. All one would need to start a healthy diet is motivation, but what about those who simply cannot afford it?

This visualization aims to educate people on the prevalence of undernourishment around the world. It raises awareness about the fact that for many people, eating healthy still remains a privilege and unattainable.

Building a narrative with data

After selecting the dataset and identifying a focal point to drive the narrative, I crafted a storyline around the data. To engage a younger audience, I chose to lead the narrative with a familiar reference point: TikTok trends. This served as a relatable entry point and set the stage for a pivotal moment halfway through the narrative. Here, the story takes a poignant turn, highlighting the stark reality that 3 billion people struggle to afford even basic sustenance, let alone a healthy diet. This turning point helps build a climax to the story, which then opens up the visual data explorer of undernourishment across the world.

Data visualization design

The primary goal of the visualization is to present key insights in a straightforward and easily understandable manner. To achieve this, I opted for simple, clear, and intuitive graphs. Drawing inspiration from the food theme, I utilized a familiar object associated with meals—a plate—and incorporated photography into the design. The result was a stylized pie chart where the empty portion represents the extent of undernourishment in each country, offering a visually engaging representation of the data.