Annie Lee




BLOOMING ORCHIDACEAES: PARSONS X SMITHSONIAN PARTNERSHIP

Visualizing the Smithsonian Gardens Orchids Collection


Live Site    Github



ROLEResearch, Data, Design & Development DURATION4 Months (Sep-Dec 2024)
3 Iterative Revisions TOOLSD3.js, Smithsonian API, Python, HTML/CSS, Github CopilotSKILLSGenerous Interface Design, Interactive Data Visualization, Information Architecture, Data Handling


PROJECT OVERVIEWThe Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection holds over 3,000 records, but its Open Access interface is built for taxonomic search — a format that works well for researchers but shuts out the curious, non-expert visitor. Over four months, I worked independently across research, data processing, design, and development to reimagine this collection as an exploratory experience: one where discovery happens through browsing, not querying.

THE CHALLENGE
I started by using the existing Smithsonian Open Access search tool the way a first-time visitor would — no species names, no taxonomic knowledge, just curiosity. The friction was immediate:

Large, Unfamiliar Datasets: Search requires knowing scientific terms (genus, species epithet) that casual visitors don't have.

Fragmented Records: Records are shown one at a time, with no way to compare across the collection. Relationships that make orchids interesting to a lay audience — why a flower smells the way it does, when it blooms, who pollinates it — only become visible when you look across hundreds of records at once, which the interface doesn't support.


This shaped my core design question: 
how might we let a non-expert discover patterns in a scientific dataset without requiring them to know what to search for?
DESIGN APPROACH

 From Search to Generous InterfaceInstead of designing another search bar, I built a generous interface—a product that invites exploration through rich, browsable visuals. For audiences with little prior knowledge, discovery comes not from knowing what to ask, but from being surprised along the way. 
Did you know some orchids only release fragrance at night to lure nocturnal pollinators? (1)Others mimic the smell of rotting meat (2) to attract flies. And some can grow taller than a person. (3) The visualization enables exploratory discovery, making patterns in fragrance, pollinators, and blooming characteristics visible across thousands of orchid records. 
THE VISUALIZATION
This project is best experienced by exploring the live site on desktopBlooming Orchidaceae is an interactive project that lets you explore over 400 orchids and how they differ in color, scent, bloom structure, pollinators, and seasonality. Orchids are grouped by genus to show shared traits, and simple filters help narrow the view by month, pollinator, or fragrance. As you explore, the visualization explains what you’re seeing with highlights, summaries, and detailed views of individual orchids.


(1) Dominant colorsVisitors think in sensory terms ("I want a purple flower"), not botanical ones. I used Vibrant.js to extract dominant colors directly from orchid images, so color becomes a browsable filter.(2) Bloom CharacteristicsBox plots show the distribution of flower count and inflorescence length, with normalized units for comparison.(3) Fragrance TypeA radial bar chart visualizes fragrance categories, color-coded by scent family. Hover reveals descriptive keywords (e.g., vanilla, honey).(4) Total CountDisplays the total number of orchids matching the current selection.(5) Pollinator GroupsFilter orchids by pollinator type; non-matching specimens are dimmed to preserve context.(6) Bloom MonthFilter orchids by bloom month along a yearly timeline, highlighting seasonal patterns.




(7) Filter Summary A dynamic callout translates active filters into a readable statement with a preview of matching orchids.


(8) Orchid DetailsClicking an orchid opens a detailed view with species, bloom traits, and ecological data.


(9) Source LinkEach record links to its Smithsonian Open Access page for verification and further exploration.  


OUTCOME
Blooming Orchidaceaes