Informing and empowering citizens on the issue of data centres in Ireland.

Dam The Data

2024
February–April

Undergrad Major Project
Self Directed

Areas:
Research
Editorial
Branding
Campaign
Advocacy
Design for Change
Photography

Dam The Data is a campaign that aims to raise awareness of the environmental impacts of Data Centres and pressure the government to prioritize citizens' energy interests. It is a collaborative effort between a number of activist groups and provides resources that can be shared to increase visibility and reach.

As well as an online and out of home campaign, Dam The Data published a free newspaper in the hope of empowering citizens with the knowledge needed to advocate for themselves in the face of the deluge of data centres in Ireland.

Context

While data centres support our tech economy and online lifestyles, their high energy consumption is causing environmental harm and costs to citizens.

The demand for data centres is predicted to increase exponentially due to AI. Increased electricity production is costing citizens and pushing us further away from meeting our climate targets.

This issue is particularly pressing in Ireland which has an extremely high number of data centres proportional to our size.

Research + Objectives

Outcomes

Publication

This free publication has been created to guide readers through this contentious issue with more nuanced, long form articles. It will be available for free in public transport hubs, community centres, colleges, libraries, and cafés.

The format (a double parallel fold with quadruple page spreads) reflects the topic. It is expansive, representing the ever-increasing scale of the issue. When held, the chosen format invites the reader to grapple with the publication, to dig deeper in order to gain their own handle on the both the book and the topic.

🏆

This publication received a commendation in Book Design from the Institute of Designers in Ireland’s Graduate Awards 2024!

Protest Props

A kit of protest props was created with the aim of supplying visually impactful, reusable materials. Different volunteer groups could borrow the kit for free through social media accounts.

These props would make their actions more noticeable and photo worthy without having to spend time and money making their own unique set. This would also serve to unify the issue in peoples minds.

Awareness Campaign

One of the problems identified was that many people are unaware of data centres despite relying on the internet in many areas of their life. Of those who were familiar with them, only some knew about the serious environmental impacts.

An ‘out-of-home’ and digital campaign would be launched to bring the issue to the public’s attention. The infographics on the Dam The Data accounts could be used by other groups campaigning the issue who don’t have the scope to create content but need to communicate the facts to their communities.

Hi Bike

Would you like to see more work?

Behaviour Forum