For the young data-designer, transforming information and numbers into evocative images that inform but above all inspire and stimulate reflections in those who observe them, has become the focus of a design research that intertwines digital with craftsmanship and often places the map at the center as an expressive tool.

The project is called Humap, that is, those “human maps” that for Ilaria Marzano are tools to bring out hidden patterns, give shape to invisible phenomena or create different perspectives on important topics.

How do you turn a map into a story?

Ilaria Marzano: “I use two approaches. The first exploits the automatic connection between place and representation, while the second contrasts them, creating a visual short circuit.

In the first approach I create city maps through repeated and marked geometric signs, merging the profiles of the buildings with the urban fabric. These maps, representing real places, become narration, evoking emotions familiar to the observer, who identifies and recognizes himself in those abstract lines.

If the maps depict imaginary landscapes, as in the series “This is not…”, it is the observer who fills in the empty spaces with memories and biases, creating his own story. In this case, the urban symbols recall globalized cities, giving rise to a perceptive dialogue in which the observer fills the complex plot with his own experiences".

"The second approach uses familiarity to generate dystonia, giving impact to specific themes. In the project “Back to square one”, I represent the textile waste that we produce and ship to other parts of the world, placing it in the streets of our cities. This vision allows us to understand the seriousness of the problem and to empathize with it.

I wouldn’t say less powerful, but certainly more integrated into everyday life. The surprise effect has diminished, leaving room for greater clarity and readability.

Today, dataviz must respond to the growing complexity of data with increasingly immediate and intuitive visual solutions. The real difference compared to the past lies in the breadth of contexts of use, which now range beyond specialist sectors. Furthermore, more accessible and intuitive tools, which do not require advanced technical skills, have made dataviz accessible to a much wider audience.

With this growth and diversification of the audience and tools, data visualization will continue to evolve, to maintain the ability to emotionally engage and communicate effectively.”

You use a lot of technology but also a lot of manual skills: how do you choose between one and the other?

Ilaria Marzano: “For me, technology and manual skills are tools of equal value, chosen based on the project and the message.

In Back to Square One, I used fabric maps, with fast fashion brand clippings, to denounce textile waste; generative AI, on the other hand, allowed me to represent squares invaded by mountains of waste, completing the narrative.

For this reason, I often integrate the two techniques, which prove to be complementary, enriching the narrative and giving it greater depth and dynamism”.

What is a good use of AI? and a bad use?

Ilaria Marzano: “A good use of AI requires preparation, awareness and control. This applies both to generating images, which I often use in the research phase, and to chatbots, useful in various tasks and in data analysis. It is essential not to rely completely on these tools, but to guide them towards clear objectives.

For example, in the generation of images, to which I dedicate a lot of time, I understood that the real objective to achieve is to be able to give shape to an idea in a coherent way, overcoming the simple 'randomness' and the 'wow' effect of the first attempts.

I understand that I have achieved the desired result when the generated map is superimposable to the one I would do manually.

The real challenge is therefore knowing how to give precise instructions, control the process and guide the results towards coherent and considered objectives, an essential aspect for 'using AI correctly'.