Visualizing Climate Migration through Data-Driven Design

Transforming Complex Data into Visual Narratives to Highlight the Human Impact of Climate Change

Completed during my summer internship at Pivot, this data visualization series communicates the complexities of climate migration in Canada. Tasked with transforming complex datasets into engaging narratives that resonate with audiences concerned about climate change, this project highlights the human impact of climate displacement on both a global and Canadian scale.

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TEAMIndividual

FOCUSData Visualization Design
Information Design

ROLEData Research and Analysis
Communication Design

TIMELINEMay – Aug 2024

Background

CLIMATE MIGRATIONClimate migration is a critical global issue, yet much of the existing discussion centers on worldwide trends, leaving Canadian-specific insights largely overlooked. This gap prevents Canadians from fully grasping how climate displacement intersects with local contexts, limiting their ability to connect with and act on the issue. Without a clear and comprehensive medium to convey its complexities, the data often becomes inaccessible, reducing its ability to raise public awareness.

ROLEAs a Summer Student Intern, my responsibilities included:

Data Research & Analysis: Organizing datasets from sources like The World Bank and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.
Data Visualization Design: Designing a cohesive poster series that combined clarity with impactful storytelling to present migration data in an aesthetically cohesive way.
Cross-Platform Content Creation: Adapting designs for social media, mobile devices, and desktop platforms.

The Big Question

How can we communicate the human impact of climate migration in an engaging and tangible way, relatable for a global audience?

The Opportunity

A significant gap exists in the visual representation of Canadian-specific climate migration data, emphasizing the need for localized narratives that complement global trends. Climate migration, as a pressing global issue, often feels overwhelming due to the sheer scale of data involved. This provided an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding through a data-driven approach–transforming raw data into compelling visual narratives that make the issue more relatable and accessible for broader engagement.

Research & Discovery

I initiated this project with a research and discovery phase, conducting an in-depth exploration on the topic, while sourcing and organizing multiple datasets. By focusing on understanding the nuances of climate migration and its broader implications, I ensured that the final outcome was informed by credible sources and research-based insights to visualize a coherent story.

TOPIC EXPLORATIONTo grasp the complexities of climate migration, I conducted extensive research into its short- and long-term impacts on both global and Canadian contexts, providing the foundation for meaningful design.

DISCOVERY PHASEI conducted thorough research into the following focus areas:

The global impact of climate change on displacement.
The unique challenges and trends specific to Canada.
Social, economic, and environmental factors shaping migration patterns.
The needs of target audiences to ensure the visuals were both informative and accessible.
Effective examples of data visualization and storytelling to guide the visual direction.

DATA SYNTHESIS
The foundation of the project was grounded on sources ranging from climate reports, academic articles, and migration datasets from The World Bank and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. At this stage, I discovered that users needed both high-level overviews and detailed data, of both qualitative and quantitative properties. I organized information into key topics and headers, streamlining over 40 datasets from diverse, global regions into a comprehensive structure. This groundwork would then inform my decision on which visualization formats best suited the content I wished to depict.

Design Process

DATA SKETCHINGUsing data visualization frameworks like LATCH (Location, Alphabetical, Time, Category, Hierarchy), I iterated numerous sketches to categorize and visualize the data effectively. Geometric shapes were used as data markers to visually differentiate various data points to make the datasets both intuitive and engaging–taking inspiration from artists like Giorgia Lupi and Federica Fragapane.

I realized that a single-graph approach might feel overwhelming or cluttered for the average viewer, so I opted to create a series of individual graphs, each focusing on a specific area of interest with its own scale, visual legend, and data points. This approach ensured clarity and allowed viewers to engage with the information more effectively.

DIGITAL RENDERINGUsing Adobe Illustrator as my primary design tool, I explored various design possibilities, adjusting scales, visual legends, data points, and its interaction with type to ensure clarity and accuracy. Through trial and error, I refined the visualizations, remaining consistent with the original sketches, while balancing aesthetic appeal with functional communication.

VISUAL DIRECTIONThe visual direction prioritized clean typography, an earth-inspired colour palette, and a modular layout to balance data density with readability across all poster variants. This minimalist, modern aesthetic reflected the seriousness of the topic while maintaining accessibility.

CONTACTdesign@jasminetidd.com
@j4s9ine

LAST UPDATEDApril 2025

OFFICEPlanet Earth (Toronto)