Mohawk Group’s Data Tide carpet tile plank system explores carbon that is sequestered in rivers and estuaries through the use of data visualization.
This unique ecosystem of estuaries where freshwater and saltwater converge serves as a biodiverse habitat for plants, fish, birds and humans. More carbon dioxide gets sequestered by plants underwater in estuaries via salt marshes, mangroves, and sea grasses than by trees and plants above ground. This is known as Blue Carbon. We need to protect estuaries from storm surge, erosion, polution, and over-development so that they may continue to help nature thrive. Without estuaries, we would lose the largest carbon sink on our planet.
Data Tide’s patternwork is the graphic interpretation of the positive ecological influence of this Blue Carbon capture, translated visually through data sets. Our designer Stacey Gerbman and A&D design director Royce Epstein took data sets from two studies – one by Duke University and the other from the UN Panel on Climate Change – and entered the data into custom built data visualization software to create the patterns for the collection.
The patterns were also influenced by the biomimetic visual elements of moving water to capture highlights and shadows in the color palette of yarns used. Each colorway has a gradient from dark to light tones, and is faithful to colors found in estuaries, to represent the biophilic design principles of bringing colors and patterns of nature into the built environment.
“Data Tide’s three coordinating patterns – Aqua Rhythm, Biome and River Code - feature a combination of solid, heathered and twisted yarns for a dimensional texture that reflects water’s movement,” explained Royce Epstein.
With water in mind, Data Tide was also designed to be a part of Mohawk Group’s larger sustainability effort, the Waterways Project. Data Tide was empowered by data and with the right tools, we can change the tide on environmental and human health.