tl;dr: Had three perspective shifting conversations in the last two days, which prompted a shift in how I am approaching my thesis. Focusing more on persuasion, and employing design fiction to help people see how congress could be better.

I spoke to three very smart people (Michael Lewis, Scott Klein, and SVAIXD’s very own Tash Wong) in the last 48 hours, and they spoke to 1) what my thesis is, 2) what my thesis isn’t, and 3) what my thesis artifact could become.

What is my thesis?

Michael Lewis is a Data Vis Creative Director at RGA. He has graciously agreed to be my thesis advisor. In our first meeting, he asked me what my goals are, and about the work I’ve done so far. Then he asked me, “Why do you think data vis is the right approach?" 

I hummed and ha’d a bit before I said, "because I need data and graphics to convey a sense of scale” and even I was not entirely convinced. Then he asked,

“Are we going to post-rationalize the work that’s already been done? Or are we willing to step back and find the right approach.”

And you know there’s only one answer to that question.

Michael’s advice was to forget the graphics and the programming for now, and to hone in on what the story is as concisely as possible. Through that I must find my editorial voice. I am trying to sell the idea of campaign finance reform - I must take on the role of the advocate and the storyteller. It doesn’t mean data vis is the wrong approach, it just means it might not be the main one.

What my thesis isn’t

Today I visited the Propublica office to chat with their news application editor Scott Klein. The folks at Propublica does some great work in data journalism and interactive storytelling. Scott graciously took time to talk to me about their process and approach. We talked a lot about how I might go about proving the existing of dependency corruption with data, and the validity of Lessig’s thesis about money’s influence on congress.

“The journalistic approach is about following the evidence and seeing where it leads. It starts with a question, and presents whatever the answer might be.”

That was the moment when it crystallized for me - what I am doing is not a data journalism project. I don’t need to take on (and I am incapable of taking on) the burden of proof that journalism requires. If my goal is to persuade people to act, I am not starting with a question. I am starting with a position and trying to persuade my audience. What I am doing is advocacy. I need to present facts, but facts are not the point, creating action is.

(Scott - you’re amazing. I am still interested in data journalism, and we’ll keep talking. But now I know I am not doing data journalism for my thesis project, and I couldn’t have gotten here without you. So thanks!)

What my thesis could be

Having detached my project from data vis and data journalism approaches, what might my thesis output look like? Over dinner tonight I told my classmate Tash Wong about my conversations with Michael and Scott. I outlined how Michael showed me that I am missing whole chunks of the story, and how I have focused too much on the problem, and not enough on the solution nor the ask*. I then laid out the solution the Larry Lessig proposed in Republic Lost.

“Could it be something more forward thinking? What if you showed people what that system implemented might look like?”

Tash reminded me that the strength of the designer is our ability to prototype visions of the future. She raised the example of the ClearRX Pill Bottle redesign project, a piece of design fiction that made the vision of a better future much clearer to everyone involved at Target. It was a talisman that catalyzed change.

What if I could create a design fiction piece that shows how it feels to participate in a citizen funded election? Wouldn’t that be a compelling way to present the solution and its benefit?

Tash also helped me think through the ask a bit better. We know that we will not get to the solution next year. Making that clear and making the roadmap clear will help persuade people to help with the first step. Contextualizing a small ask in a roadmap to the ultimate goal.

* - I am using the words solution, benefit, and ask very specifically. Michael give me this 5 part storytelling/persuasion framework to work with: Intrigue, Problem, Solution, Benefit, Ask. A persuasive argument should have all these components.