ELIZABETH I. MCCAFFREY



SELECTED WORKS


OUR ENERGY NEXUS
OUR CHANGING TIDES
DISPLACEMENT FLOWERS
GREENERY ATLAS
CLIMATE RINGS


AFFILIATED CONTRIBUTIONS
SENSEABLE CITY LAB | MIT
2025
 OUR ENERGY NEXUS

2025 Information+ Exhibition: Energy 14 - 16 November 2025, Cambridge, MA USA

2025 Milan Design Week:
Lexus A-Un - Discover Together 7 - 13 April  2025,  Milan, IT USA



TEAM
Chloe Hudson Prock &
Elizabeth McCaffrey      
Lead Visual and Technical Design
Jasmine Yiming Sun        
Visual Development Assistance

Paolo Ciuccarellix          
Mentor & Coordinator


DESCRIPTION Our Energy Nexus is an interactive installation that reimagines energy as a collective force that can shape our world. Blending real-time air quality data with poetic computation and a focus on user experience and interaction, this project invites viewers to contribute their own warmth to a shared sky—transforming pollution into a visible constellation of communal action, and illustrating in real time the power of community and collective action. At the heart of the experience is a visualization of fluctuating air pollution levels across major cities throughout the globe via the World Air Quality Index. Each visitor is invited to contribute their warmth as energy—captured through non-contact thermal sensors—which is transformed into a unique star in the sky. 

Each star added reduces the representation of pollution, offering a reflection about how small-scale actions can contribute to broader impact. As the air pollution recedes, the stars shine brighter, revealing the potential of our shared energy. Often, our individual actions alone may feel small or insignificant. but when joined with others we realize the strength we hold together. The stars accumulate and swirl in an ever-evolving nexus, showing all that connects us and holds us together through our actions. 



ABOUT THE DATA
The World Air Quality Index public API was utilized as a live data source to track the current air quality in Milan, and was updated daily throughout the exhibition. The air quality data points were mapped to the on screen trigaular visual, representing the current significance of the air pollution.

Additionally biometric data was collected from participants in the form of body surface temperature by a thermal sensor. The temperature reading was passed to the visualization and interpreted as a unique color displayed in the users generated ‘star’.




CREATION
 The experience was commissioned by Lexus International for Milan Design Week in collaboration with Northeastern University’s Center for Design and was entirely student driven. Lexus’ new cockpit screen, Black Butterfly, was provided and used as the primary element of the installation. All visuals were designed and coded by the team in the Processing environement, and all sensor hardware was assembled by the team.



AWARDS
2025

Fuorisalone Awards
Public Vote | 2nd Place
Special Mention | Design Schools




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extensive pdf portfolio available on request

E elizabeth.mccaffrey4@gmail.com

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Last Updated 07.2025
















2025 ELIZABETH I. MCCAFFREY