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Kontinentalist
@kontinentalist.bsky.social
69 followers 25 following 130 posts
Kontinentalist is a studio that advocates for a more equitable world that fosters connections between Asia’s sources of knowledge. We nurture community around data and human experiences 🌟
https://kontinentalist.com
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kontinentalist.bsky.social
For cultural tidbits from Asia, subscribe to notes from the equator: your monthly digest on all (good!) things Asia and data. kawan.kontinentalist.com/tag/newslett...
Newsletter - Kawan
Catch up on our past issues of our free monthly newsletter, notes from the equator.
kawan.kontinentalist.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
Did you know about how the Visayans in the Philippines tell time?
A trivia titled "Reading embodied data: How Visayans tell time. Here we see a simple, flat coloured illustration indicating 2 of the ways Visayans tell time: Sun's position in the sky and time for climbing. The trivia goes as follows. Many cultures traditionally follow nature’s cues to tell time. For the Visayans in the Phillipines, they divide daylight hours into various time periods according to the position of the sun. Nasirakna, meaning “shining”, is a time assigned between dawn and noon. Nabahadna means a time for climbing, followed by Iguritlogna, which is when hens lay eggs. If you raise an arm to the sun during Makalulululu, your bracelet slides down, while Natupongna sa lubi describes the sun’s descent to the height of palm trees, seen against the horizon. The day ends with Igsirinto, when it is too dark to recognise other people.
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
In the age of digital streaming, how do Kpop entertainment companies continue to entice fans? Get the behind-the-scenes of our latest story. kawan.kontinentalist.com/simulating-w...
Simulating what it feels to be a Kpop fan
Our latest story The Physical Phenomenon explores why physical albums remain so popular in the K-pop industry despite the rise of digital streaming. This behind-the-scenes looks at the motivations beh...
kawan.kontinentalist.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
Hyper-personalised tech appears to have gotten us covered. But despite the sense of intimacy, machines cannot yet replace what makes us human. Can we design with this in mind? Asks our Design Lead, Joceline.
An excerpt of Joceline's editor note. It says, It feels like algorithms get me better than I get myself sometimes. TikTok’s For You Page boosts my endorphins on a bad day, Fitbit nudges me when my body’s asking for rest, and Spotify’s Daylist matches my mood any time of day. Of course, none of it is magic. We have been ushered into an era of hyper-personalisation by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics, where technology anticipates or responds instantly to our needs. Meanwhile, AI models are becoming increasingly advanced in retrieving information and identifying patterns. They can effortlessly remember, predict, and adapt to the complexity of every individual and respond in real-time with solutions that feel tailor-made. At least, that’s the story sold to us. Beyond the appeal of convenience, hyper-personalisation works because it taps into something deeply human. We want to be “seen”, to matter as individuals, and to be recognised as complex beings with shifting needs and nuance. The rise of AI griefbots shows that personalisation designed for reciprocal connection—not just as tools for efficiency—can land deeply. But for that, we don’t always need AI or the latest technology. A coffee machine that remembers my perfect cup isn’t the same as a kopi auntie who remembers my regular order. What if we designed tech products with that in mind? Note excerpt ends here.
November 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
Happening on March 12-13, 2026
Fees: S$600/ person. Sign up in pairs for 15% off!
Common Ground Civic Centre, Singapore

Reserve your spot today 👉 www.eventbrite.sg/e/data-story...
Data Storytelling Workshop (2-days, in-person)
Our data storytelling workshop shares the storytelling techniques we use to help your data make a difference.
www.eventbrite.sg
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
➡️ Investigate data with care: handle gaps, structure insights, and refine your research

➡️ Go beyond charts: discover fresh ways to visualise information

➡️ Transform your data: tell stories that truly resonate with your audience
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
If you’re keen to craft effective data stories which truly resonate, join us for our next flagship data storytelling workshop in March 2026!

workshop.kontinentalist.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
What climate topics do you want us to cover next? If you have climate data you want to communicate, we’d love to hear from you!

(7/7)
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
📊 In a project we did with AEON Collective for COP26, we visualised complex climate data in the GCC through data art: aeon.kontinentalist.studio/en

(6/7)
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
🍃What’s the deal with climate goals and carbon credits? We break it down here: kontinentalist.com/stories/sing...

(5/7)
Clearing the air
Singapore wants to become a global carbon trading hub. What does this mean? To answer that, we need to first understand what the carbon credit markets are.
kontinentalist.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
🌡️ Why does it often feel hotter than what the temperature says? We explain it here:

www.instagram.com/p/CgTisMRlvdZ/

(4/7)
A cover illustration for an Instagram-based story titled "No, you're not imagining things. It is getting hotter." It's written by Loh Pei Ying and created as a collaboration between Kontinentalist and The Weird and Wild, the brand name of Qi Yun, a Singaporean climate educator and artist. The simple, flat-coloured and colourful illustration depicts Qi Yun's character, a cute green blob with wide eyes, looking anxiously at the sun and sweltering heat. The backdrop is a sunny day in Singapore with apartment blocks. Everything is drawn as if it's woozy and melting.
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
🥵 Nights are getting hotter, not just days. We unpack why: www.instagram.com/p/DLBx7ITSXFz/

(3/7)
A cover illustration for an Instagram-based story titled "EVERY NIGHT A WARM NIGHT", written by Pei Ying Loh and designed by Michael Ambion. It depicts a man struggling with the heat, sweating and holding a fan. It's night, but the sky's colour scheme is red and purple.
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
At Kontinentalist, we’ve been exploring how to make these complexities feel closer and more human through stories, data art, and visuals that help us see the connections between climate and our experiences.

Here are some of the ways we’ve told these stories throughout the years:

(2/7)
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
For cultural tidbits from Asia, subscribe to notes from the equator: your monthly digest on all (good!) things Asia and data.

kawan.kontinentalist.com/tag/newslett...
Newsletter - Kawan
Catch up on our past issues of our free monthly newsletter, notes from the equator.
kawan.kontinentalist.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:11 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
Did you know about the intricate patterns of Kolam and the meanings they hold? (4/5)
A trivia: The intricacies of Kolam. A photo of Kolam is displayed here. Kolam is a religious and ornamental design crafted on the floor of residences and entrances to public spaces during traditional Indian festivities. Continuation of the trivia. Traditionally, the motifs were drawn with edible grains, coloured with dyes made from vegetable colouring, an act of charity encouraged in Hindu scriptures as the grains can then be eaten by insects. Aside from beautifying one’s home, the kolam’s main purpose is to drive away bad spirits and bring prosperity.
November 2, 2025 at 3:10 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
Picking up from our earlier conversation on accessibility, part 2 of our interview with Equal Dreams looks at how communities are reimagining access and inclusion as well as their hopes and growing pains. (3/5)
kawan.kontinentalist.com/ways-of-prac...
Ways of practising accessibility with Equal Dreams (Part 2)
We sat down with the team behind Equal Dreams, a social business moving the needle forward when it comes to accessibility, to discuss the realities and nuances behind building a more accessible future...
kawan.kontinentalist.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:06 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
In her editor’s note, our co-founder Peiying ( @hellopeiying.bsky.social ) reflects on what authenticity means in a world increasingly shaped by AI and how we continue to find meaning and memory in what we make. (2/5)
Excerpt of Peiying's editor's note, part 1 out of 4. There’s this specific fried rice made by my Aunty that has stayed with me, even though I was 7 years old the last time I had it. The mixture of luncheon meat, egg, and fluffy rice conjures up carefree and happy memories–akin to Anton Ego’s life-changing moment in Ratatouille. I’ve tried recreating this dish at least a hundred times since, but I have not succeeded. Its taste lives only in memory and nostalgia. Excerpt of Peiying's editor's note, part 2 out of 4. Embodied experiences are key to authenticity. We can tell what is authentic through sight, taste, smell, or sound on recall. Many of us will be able to tell our grandmother’s food apart from a restaurant’s, because of the familiarity that comes with her cooking [...] Through years of experience, we gain the ability to discern authenticity. Excerpt of Peiying's editor's note, part 3 out of 4. Does the accumulation of knowledge and experience make something authentic? If so, why do so many rebuke Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) for being “fake”? The underlying assumption is that AI cheapens the end result, through shortcuts, replicability, and plagiarism, or worse, hallucination. Excerpt of Peiying's editor's note, part 4 out of 4. I think it is in the act of remembrance—the human ability to not only recall information, but along with it, to think through our senses and emotions to bring up an always imperfect copy, but one that is ours. Perhaps one day Gen AI might give me a recipe that recreates my Aunty’s fried rice, or so I hope. But what it will never take from me is the memory of coming home to that dish, the feeling of love, warmth and safety that is deeply etched in me.
November 2, 2025 at 3:05 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
In our latest story, we explore what it takes for a Kpop fan to collect the merchandise they want, and the consequences of that.

kontinentalist.com/stories/kpop...
The Physical Phenomenon
With Apple Music and Spotify dominating the way we listen to music these days, why are physical albums so popular among Kpop fans?
kontinentalist.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:22 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
But there's more that can be done for sure. Personally, we've been looking into the work of Frank Elavsky (www.frank.computer) and Equal Dreams (kawan.kontinentalist.com/ways-of-seei...), who do great work in making data and creative projects accessible! 😉
bsky.app
October 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
kontinentalist.bsky.social
Hi Nish! Thank you for the shoutout and thoughtful question 🙂 admittedly, accessibility is a work-in-progress for us. Since this 2022 story, we've experimented with tools to make our data viz accessible in different ways, such as alt text or a captioned alternative to an animated/interactive section
October 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM