The Global Diet Quality Score Data Art Collection by Nadieh Bremer

This data art collection was created for the GDQS Country Story Book by Intake. The six-piece collection uses Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) data from over 80,000 individuals aged 15 and older across 23 countries in six world regions, transforming them into symbolic and vibrant visualizations.

Each artwork explores specific dietary patterns, translating the 25 unique GDQD food groups into distinct visual elements—such as colors, shapes, and textures – wavy white lines for "Whole Grains" contrasting with groupings of bold red circles for food items belonging to "Red Meat."

For the collection's cornerstone piece, each person's dietary data is visualized along a ring. If someone consumed one item from the “Red Meat” category, a small (arc)section of that person’s ring will be marked with red circles. The more items eaten from a specific GDQS category, the greater the length. For example, if four items were consumed from the “Whole Grains” category, a white wavy line four times longer than the red circle section would be drawn on the ring. This process continues until visual markers are placed on the ring for all the different GDQS categories the person consumed that day.

A vibrant tapestry emerges as data from thousands more individuals joins the canvas. Reds, peaches, turquoises, whites – a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes intertwine and overlap, a visual synonym for the vast diversity of human diets.

The resulting circular form evokes the familiar image of a plate, a dish, as seen from above. All 25 categories combine to create the full spectrum of human dietary choices, a reminder that meals are more than just the sum of their ingredients. They are intricate compositions crafted by individuals and enjoyed in the presence of friends and family.

The remaining five complementary pieces each spotlight unique food group themes: animal source foods inspired by slowly undulating muscle fibers, vegetables and tubers looking like lettuce, sweets and processed foods using a spiral form common in lollipops, whole foods represented as a chaos of noddles or spaghetti, and fruits using quarter and semi-circles we associate with fruit slices.

Inspired by universal experiences like shared meals, this collection celebrates the richness, diversity, and cultural nuances of global diets, offering a visually engaging narrative of dietary data and its impact.