Water is essential to life and yet as of 2022, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water. The water we consume goes beyond what flows from our taps. Most of it is hidden in the products we buy. This is known as virtual water: the water used throughout a product’s production process, from agriculture to manufacturing.
This infographic project highlights the issue of virtual water consumption and aims to shift consumer awareness. Each card visualises the water footprint of a product through bar chart inspired water levels: the higher the level, the greater the hidden water use. On the back, this amount is translated into drinking water equivalents, showing how long it could sustain a person.
Visualising Water Scarcity
Each card presents a visual metaphor for water scarcity. A scale gradually removes water from a human figure, illustrating its decreasing availability. This comparison highlights the contrast between the often unnoticed high water consumption of some people and the amount that could sustain one of the billions worldwide who lack access to clean water.
To provide deeper insight, the set includes not only the card but also a small booklet offering further information on global water distribution, access to water and the need for greater awareness.
From Personal Insights to a Collective Awareness
Understanding virtual water consumption began as a personal experiment, inviting individuals to track their own consumption on postcards. The eye-opening results highlighted the urgency of raising awareness about this often-overlooked issue. Conversations provided valuable insights into concerns and perspectives on conscious consumption, directly shaping the design of the final outcome: a set of informative cards to help others make more informed shopping choices.
A Font Shaped by Water
Creating a font that visually represents water was a key element of this project. Experimentation involved drawing letters with actual water on a glass surface - a challenging process, as the water remained in constant motion, allowing only seconds to capture each letter before it transformed.
This technique served as a conscious choice, enabling direct interaction with water and integrating it into the creative process while emphasising its unique properties and behaviour.
