OVERVIEW
This data visualization project explores the critical yet often overlooked role of Sherpas in high-altitude mountaineering. Framed through a poetic-narrative and informational lens, the project highlights the labor, risk, and expertise behind expeditions in the Himalayas, using data to reveal the human stories embedded within extreme environments.
SKILLS
Data Visualization
Illustration
Motion Design
PROBLEM
Mountaineering narratives often center climbers, overlooking the labor and disproportionate risks carried by Sherpas. Existing data is fragmented and inaccessible, limiting public understanding of their role.
RESEARCH
My research initially focused on Piolets d’Or award winners, exploring the achievements of celebrated mountaineers. However, my perspective shifted toward the Sherpas and high-altitude workers whose expertise, preparation, and labor are essential to Himalayan expeditions, yet often receive less recognition. Using the Himalayan Database, I investigated historical expedition records, summit success rates, fatalities, and climbing risks. My research revealed how the dangers faced by Sherpas often differ from those of summit climbers, particularly during route preparation. These findings inspired me to shift the narrative from celebrating individual achievements to visualizing the overlooked contributions and risks of those behind the summit.
SOLUTIONS
The final outcome is a data-driven illustrative narrative that visualizes the disproportionate risks and responsibilities carried by Sherpas in mountaineering expeditions. By combining statistical data with my illustrations to create a poetic visual approach, the project brings attention to their essential role while making complex information more accessible and engaging.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
I began by asking who reached the summit. I ended by asking who made the summit possible.
Changing the Question Changes the Story
Shifting my research from celebrated mountaineers to Sherpas taught me that meaningful data storytelling begins with asking the right questions. By looking beyond individual achievements, I uncovered a perspective often missing from traditional mountaineering narratives.
Beyond the Numbers
I envision expanding the project with firsthand accounts from Sherpa guides and high-altitude workers, connecting quantitative findings with personal experiences to create a more authentic and human-centered narrative.