I was commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund (through Fourtold) to create a data art hero image for their Time For CH₄nge campaign, designed to raise awareness about methane emissions and their impact on climate change. The challenge was to give form to the invisible: methane is a colorless, odorless gas, making its growing presence difficult to perceive. I developed a full data art system and interactive webpage, inviting users to enter their date of birth and experience how much methane has been added to the atmosphere during their lifetime, making the global issue feel personal and immediate.
To bring this idea to life, I designed a generative data art system that transforms atmospheric methane data into vibrant, circular compositions. Each year since a person’s birth is represented by a ring, with its color and brightness reflecting the amount of additional methane added that year — the more methane, the brighter the color. Flowing distortions ripple through the rings, creating a light, gaseous feel that echoes the invisible, atmospheric nature of methane itself.
The visual system had to work seamlessly across a wide range of formats, from digital displays to large posters and even tiny enamel pins. I carefully balanced intricate detail with visual clarity at different scales, drawing inspiration from the simple, powerful elegance of the Climate Stripes.
The Time for CH₄nge campaign officially launched on April 7th with an event in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, scientists, and environmental advocates. The personalized artworks served both as conversation starters and as emotional anchors, connecting each attendee to the urgency of tackling methane emissions. Watching people engage with their own “methane circle” was a powerful reminder of how data, design, and art together can make environmental issues tangible and deeply personal.
