Visualizing History Through Hong Kong Protest Data

Graphicacy’s data engineers and designers created three interlinked data visualizations. They share key features, with all three categorizing actions by type and displaying where and when they took place. 

From the landing page’s default view, an interactive map shows bubbles representing clusters of actions at a given location, usually grouped by the nearest subway station. A second view groups actions by type, highlighting the different strategies used by police and protestors. The third view documents the evolving scope of the protests by arranging events along an animated timeline. In all three visualizations, clicking a bubble opens a detailed, filter-rich data table of incidents, many linked to videos in the HKAA.

To enhance the visualization’s legal utility, the HKAA team asked Graphicacy to prominently feature filters for Letters of No Objection—whether a protest had formal permission—and whether police gave a warning before engaging in use of force. 

Early feedback on the archive speaks to the project’s deep emotional and political value.