Dear Nature: Using data drawings to promote sensemaking in human-nature relations

Humans are experiencing both anxiety and hopelessness regarding how they, as individuals, can affect positive change to mitigate climate change in complex human-made systems. This exploratory design research investigates how data drawings, created from personal, place-based observations of nature, can enhance human-nature connection and sensemaking in the Anthropocene. Can cooperative inquiry across different geographies, and the consequent confrontation of experiences, lead to a deeper awareness of larger, more-than-human systems? We introduce (1) a post-humanist design method called Dear Nature for supporting mindful reflection and sensemaking in human-nature relations, (2) our methodology and process based on data humanism, (3) analyses and outcomes from a five-week-long data collection and (4) considerations regarding how we can explore human-nature data reflections collectively to decenter the human in design. This first humble step towards non-anthropocentric design could lead to insights into post-humanist design thinking and the role of the human (and more-than-human) in designed systems.