FROM DATA TO TANGIBLE EXPERIENCES
I developed a design system that transformed Instagram activity into a series of custom lighting objects, reimagining personal data as a source of reflection, connection, and delight.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Most of us rarely think about the data social media platforms collect about us. Yet these digital traces can reveal surprisingly personal stories about our habits, aspirations, and identities.
Together, Instagram likes and saves reveal a compelling difference between how we present ourselves publicly and what we are privately drawn to.
♡ Instagram Likes - Visible to Others
▱ Instagram Saves - Visible to the User
THE PROCESS
Using one year of Instagram Like and Save activity from three participants, I developed a design system that transformed these digital behaviors from each individual into a unique physical lighting object. Patterns of public and private engagement informed each lamp's form, scale, and illumination.
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
This series of diagrams outlines the process of translating raw Instagram data into physical form. Each step of the process: collecting, translating, and building, shows how each participant’s personal data directly shaped the final objects, from raw numbers to fully fabricated lamps.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
01 Participants described filtering what they liked based on how they wished to be perceived, treating likes as a form of self-presentation.
02 Saved content often reflected a more honest version of participants' interests: things that felt too personal, niche, or aspirational to engage with publicly.
03 Seeing these patterns translated into physical form helped participants recognize differences between their public and private selves that had previously gone unnoticed.
Translating personal data into physical form encouraged participants to reflect on aspects of their digital lives that had otherwise remained invisible.
This project suggests that personal data can become more than a tool for prediction and optimization. Through industrial design, data can foster reflection, connection, and a deeper understanding of ourselves.
