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A Data Love Letter to the NYC Subway
Giorgia Lupi and her Pentagram team developed "A Data Love Letter to the Subway" for the MTA. This project is described as an "absolute dream project." The animation uses MTA data to personify each subway line. Unique characteristics of each line are derived from data such as length, location, and transfer points. These data points are abstracted into distinct train behaviors and attributes. The animation imaginatively depicts the age, length, and routes of each train line. Ultimately, it tells a poetic story about the trains' interactions. These interactions involve both commuters and other trains within the subway system. The visual system of the subway is explored with curiosity and wonder, inspired by picture books. The team translated train data into a narrative of attributes and behaviors. This provides insights into the subway ecosystem's interactions, roles, differences, and connections.