#2 Newsletter
Hi there,
It’s finally getting warmer here in Seoul, though we had a weird rainy weekend. I just finished browsing the digital results of the SND for inspiration, and it’s amazing to see and learn what others are doing. Meanwhile, we’re still working on some furniture installations to make our new apartment truly feel like home.
Anyway, let’s start.
Pablo talks to…
Rebeca Pazos, a proud mum of one and is dedicated to telling compassionate, human-centered data stories. She currently works at The Straits Times as Data Visualisation Editor.
1. Imagine you have to choose a chart that represents you the best. Which one would you choose and why?
Scatter plot! It took me a while to figure out which one, but I think it sums me up just right! I can feel scatterbrained most of the time but eventually there is clarity in the chaos!
2. When working on a large project (and unable to find a solution for a specific problem), how do you manage to clear your mind and regain focus to solve the issue?
I'm quite grateful to have a young son and I spend considerable time with him in my evenings. We often run and bike together, and being outside, seeing the world through his eyes, is freeing and enables me to allow my brain the space it needs to see a problem from different perspectives. My craziest ideas or solutions often come to me this way!
3. What is your favorite hobby at the moment, or one you would like to take on soon?
I'm a big, big fan of ancient Greek and Roman myth but from a feminist perspective! I dabble with short courses whenever I can to help force me to take the time to read ancient texts through the lens of analysis from modern women scholars. I find it fascinating how even my own life is influenced by these ancient cultures.
4. What is the project you are most proud of, and why do you feel that way about it?
There are a few, but my most meaningful project was on dementia-friendly homes and public spaces in 2022. I'd just lost my own grandfather (my Abuelo) to the illness and so, I refused to approach it with the usual melancholy. During his illness, there were many hilarious moments filled with light, as well as the expected moments of darkness. I was lucky to meet a wonderful family in Singapore who welcomed us into their home and shared with us the many ways to support someone with dementia.
5. What is your primary source of inspiration for work that's not related to your industry?
I think there are many places - films, TV shows, even window displays. I've sometimes even pulled colours from flowers I've liked. I think it has also been helpful to imagine who is reading my pieces and how I can engage them, delight them. The person I think of the most is my mum and now, my 6 year old, so I often take inspiration from what they find entertaining too.
6. What new skills did you learn from your most recent work?
Lately, it has been important for me to be the fuel to the fire for my team and not the fire itself. I've had to learn to slowly pull back and allow them to grow and mature. It wasn't easy, still is not easy, as I often want to just step in and do it the way I would like it to be done. But, I've learned that this is not helpful and I must get out of the way, working from the sidelines to give the team the environment they need, the encouragement and guidance they need to succeed.
7. Can you share one interesting fact about the city that you're currently living in that you consider worth to make a project of?
In Singapore, it is quite common for families to have live-in maids, also known as foreign domestic workers. They often come from neighbouring countries and typically poorer households. I find the over reliance and treatment of these essential workers an interesting juxtaposition in Singapore society and would love to explore this, but more specifically how to improve the dynamic between families and their helpers.
Another fun project I want to work on - but is not related to Singapore specifically - is dance, anything to do with dance and movements of the body. I used to be a dancer (I still am in my living room sometimes!) and I enjoy the ways we can shape our bodies to express ourselves. Hopefully, one day, fingers crossed!
8. If the average human attention span is shorter than the one of a goldfish, what is your favorite way to capture users' attention?
I'm a big fan of powerful intros for my pieces. I like to use human faces, where possible, that have a compelling or emotional backstory that are guaranteed to captivate just about any human with a 'pulse' to feel compelled to read the story. It's my digital 'above the fold'!
9. If you could choose a superpower to use for your work, what would it be, and why?
Super-patience! I often find myself impatient to achieve, push forward, get things done and also, I'm often faced with conversations that are draining on creativity and progress. However, it is often through those types of uncomfortable situations that I've been able to solidify my strategy and improve my arguments - so patience to see it through and know that the discomfort will lead me to be better and stronger in my thoughts and actions.
10. Mention one helpful tip that current Rebecca would give to past Rebecca to speed up each publication
There are probably two tips I'd give - and they wildly contradict each other, but are necessary to do at the same time. The first tip is just do it, just do the best you can and publish it and move on. Bite your tongue, make a decision and let go. I've found that the creative process is iterative and your next project will invariably be better than the last, but the only way to get there is not get too stuck in the reeds and try to improve to perfection what you are currently working on. The second tip is pay attention to the details as you go along, document and reference everything and keep track of all the decision making if you can (I use Notion for this!). It's a balance between the two, of course, too far in any direction and you either get stuck or produce something you aren't proud of!
11. Can you recommend any tools (not necessarily related to work) that you find helpful?
A good documentation and tracking tool is essential - I am a Notion nerd. I use it for everything and I mean everything, even managing my son's schedule and my shopping lists! Every project is iterative, learnings from past ones blend into the next one, so it's been important to have these decisions, files and processes on record and shareable with the team.
Weekly links:
Wordstream maker ◦ Visual design rules ◦ 100,000 Stars: star system visualised ◦ Historical maps in libraries worldwide ◦ Mapping climate change conflicts ◦ Visualisation of massive amounts of air traffic data ◦ Land lines ◦ Fresh and vibrant Colors generator based on lighting and pigment ◦ A clean habit tracker ◦ Water risk atlas ◦ Eo Time series viewer ◦ Where sharks attack ◦ Interactive turbulence map
Illustrator of the week
◦◦◦ Timo Kuilder ◦◦◦
Latest work:
As I mentioned last week, I’ve published multiple stories over the past few months, so I will share them randomly alongside some recent news.
Gave a talk and some 1:1 sessions to master’s students in the Data Analytics and Visualization graduate program at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) a few weeks ago.
Drew around 50 portraits to explain how, in China’s COVID fog, the deaths of scholars offer some clues. It also made it to print.
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See you next week!