Studio

Phenomenal is an information design studio that creates interfaces to deepen people’s understanding of the world. We collaborate with research & development organizations to advance big ideas in science, humanities, and technology.

Vision

Phenomenon, from the Greek for “appearing in view,” is a concept that has profoundly shaped our understanding of the world. Employed in both science and philosophy, it encapsulates humanity’s drive to comprehend the world from both subjective and objective perspectives. In science, phenomena refer to observable and objectively analyzable events in the natural world, consistent across all observers. Driven by logical, rational, and systematic inquiry with reproducible outcomes, the scientific method observes phenomena to develop universally applicable knowledge. In philosophy, phenomena are used to describe internal experiences as perceived through the senses and processed by the mind. Phenomenology is the “science of phenomena,” or the study of mental structures that give life meaning.

Central to phenomenology is the notion that humans are not distinct from the world. Instead, human existence is characterized as “being-in-the-world,” where humans and the world are inextricably intertwined. Guided by perception and interpretation, phenomenology offers a perspective that science does not provide—the world through lived experience. Inspired by our innate desire to make sense of the world from both subjective and objective viewpoints, Phenomenal Studio’s mission is to empower individuals to live more meaningful lives through a holistic understanding of the world.

Phenomenal Interfaces

1

Distill complex topics

Visualize the breadth and depth of complex topics without oversimplification. Our interfaces distill complexity by representing a domain as its constituent parts and their interactions, making it accessible to experts and novices alike.

2

Reveal patterns & relationships

Revealing relationships in the data by visualizing “the forest and the trees” allows people to understand the big picture and underlying details.

3

Cut through the noise

Using editorial discretion and impactful visuals, phenomenal interfaces highlight the most and de-emphasize less important information making it easier to focus and make decisions.

4

Captivate hearts & minds

Presenting data as a narrative, with tension between perspectives or scenarios, helps your work resonate on both emotional and practical levels.

Work

Our projects span exploratory visualizations, interactive explainers, and exhibits that engage audiences with complex topics.

Mapping Health

University Of Washington

The New Normal

Google

The Garden Of Health

Adventist Health

Legislative Explorer

University Of Washington

More Projects

Approach

Phenomenal Interfaces are crafted through a process that is simultaneously people-centered and subject-centered. Starting with the most abstract concepts and moving to the most concrete details, the interface is always a space where people and subject matter interact.

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Phenomena

People

The studio does not have a fixed team. Instead, for each project, the right team is assembled from our network of collaborators that includes designers, creative technologists, and strategists.

Sergei Larionov

Phenomenal Founder

Sergei is a conceptual artist and designer from Irkutsk, Russia now living in Corvallis, OR. In the past, Sergei was a Creative Director at Schema, Sr. Data Visualization Designer at Wunderman, and a Sr. Interaction Designer at Microsoft. He holds a Master of Design degree from the University of Washington, and a Bachelors in Art & Technology and Business Administration from the University of Oregon.