Parsons And The United Nations

Category: Academic Research.

Industry: Big Data & Gender Equality.

Location: New York.

Related to: Data analysis / Education / Data Visualization.

Reviewer: John Acosta – MS. SD&M.

Company : Data Visualization / Global & Human Development.

Website: New School MS of Data Visualization   United Nations Development Program

About:

In 2015, Parsons Data Visualization students partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in order to best portray annual reporting statistics. The Data Visualization program helps students combine analytical and design skills in order to present statistics and data into easily read graphics. Data viz illuminates problems, allowing the issues to be more understood and the possible solutions to be built and prototyped further.

Parsons’ commitment to collaborating across disciplines, connecting with the global community, and using design as a force for social good brought on the new partnership with welcome arms. Creating visuals out of hard to read data builds a strong case for insight and action.  Th UNDP had gathered critical information regarding the gender inequalities in Africa. The data and accompanied report showed that the inequalities cost Africa $95 billion dollars a year. Yet the UNDP need a unique, cross-disciplinary team to display the numbers. The impact report proved the case, yet the Parsons students were tasked with reaching a wider audience, reaching people who may never read the report yet care enough to act on the issue.

Only in it’s second year, the Masters of Data Visualization has high impact on the worlds of computer science, statistical analytics, and graphic design. As these students and the program progress, it will become more and more important to portray information into a means of action and insight.