The Shape of dreams

"The Shape of Dreams" is an award-winning data visualization project created by information designer Federica Fragapane and developed by me, for Google Trends and Google News Lab. This interactive digital experience transforms search queries about dream interpretations into stunning visual narratives, revealing how people worldwide seek meaning in their dream experiences through Google searches.

Initiated in 2018, the project employs an innovative approach to data visualization that transcends conventional graphing methods. Through elegant, organic visual language and thoughtful information architecture, it reveals cultural patterns in dream interpretations across different languages and regions—from common themes that unite the global human experience to culturally unique dream subjects, such as "picking mushrooms" dreams in Russian searches or "garlic dreams" in Portuguese.

The project exemplifies how data visualization can bridge analytical and emotional dimensions, turning complex information into an engaging and accessible storytelling medium. Recognized for its excellence with an Awwwards Honorable Mention and featured in Global Investigative Journalism Network's top data journalism pieces for 2020, "The Shape of Dreams" stands as a testament to how visualization can transform raw data into meaningful artistic expression while preserving analytical integrity.

This innovative work it's a way to create digital experiences that harmonize aesthetic beauty with intellectual substance, inviting viewers to explore and discover insights through an immersive interface that makes complex information not just understandable but also emotionally resonant.