jknip-SectionA-LookingOutwards-07

“Digg Rings” by Chris Harrison (2007-2008)

Between 2007 and 2008, Harrison grabbed the top 10 most dugg stories every day and rendered tree-ring-like visualizations based on the data. I really admire how each tree-ring created such different visual illusions and how certain colors/data categories are more prominent across each day of the week — Harrison describes that these variations occur as rings are cumulative. Randomness is unlikely to be found within this project, as the artist visualizes these rings based on real data. There may be some flaws in the algorithm as he notices that some days have fewer than 10 top stories, which is unusual. Harrison’s artistic sensibilities can be found in his choice of color palette, along with scale and presentation of the final rings. Each coded ring creates such different visual perspective depending on the scale it is shown.

http://www.chrisharrison.net/index.php/Visualizations/DiggRings