Heads Up Times Square

HeadsUp! is an extraordinary international competition that beckons designers from around the world to embark on a creative journey, one that seeks to visualize and communicate critical global issues to the masses. At its core, this competition aims to give rise to a shared symbol, a beacon of awareness in the public square, that transcends borders and languages. With a focus on deciphering complex data regarding global groundwater levels, climate change, and ocean acidification, designers are tasked with crafting a series of visual displays that transform abstract metrics into actionable knowledge. The result is nothing short of revolutionary - a powerful convergence of the metaphorical impact of the Doomsday Clock, the authority of data visualization, and the immediacy of activist electronic billboards. We present to you: the HeadsUp! Display for the planet.

In its inaugural year, the HeadsUp! competition has partnered with Visualizing.org to issue a challenge that pushes the boundaries of creativity and innovation. The challenge at hand? To Visualize Global Groundwater Levels, a mission that holds immense significance in our ever-changing world. The winning visualization from this competition will be showcased on the grand stage of Times Square2, gracing the Thomson Reuters/NASDAQ digital signboards in the heart of Times Square. This marks just the beginning of an exciting journey, as HeadsUp! is poised to roll out a series of challenges across a spectrum of physical and mobile media platforms.

Founded in 2010 by the visionary Peggy Weil, HeadsUp! was officially unveiled to the world during a panel discussion at PICNIC Amsterdam. This panel, featuring luminaries such as Dale Herigstad of Possible Worldwide, Steve Hayden of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, Usman Haque of Haque Design + Research, and Dr. Carlo Buontempo from the MET Office UK, delved into the profound idea that designers possess a unique ability to transform unfamiliar substances at unimaginable scales into clear and compelling messages. With advancements in data visualization, the pervasive influence of social networks, and the widespread adoption of mobile platforms, coupled with the emergence of virtual and augmented realities, new opportunities have arisen to create trusted beacons that shed light on pressing global issues.

HeadsUp! represents a bold leap forward in the realm of design and data-driven activism. It is a call to action, a global movement, and a testament to the profound impact that creativity and visualization can have in shaping our understanding of the world and galvanizing us to address its most pressing challenges. Join us in this remarkable endeavor to transform data into enlightenment, abstract metrics into tangible action, and the world into a better place. Together, we will turn our collective gaze towards the future with a resounding "Heads up!" for the planet.