PERU,
Surprising Culinary Delights
This project holds a very special place in my portfolio. As a Peruvian, I wanted to put my heart into a visualization that went beyond the typical tourist lens of Machu Picchu to explore the true soul of my country: its gastronomy. This was one of my first deep dives into data visualization, created under the mentorship of Dr. Alberto Cairo. It served as the foundation for my career as a graphics reporter, where I first mastered tools like Flourish, a skill set that continues to define my approach to storytelling today.
The process
01
Sketching & conceptualization
As always, I like to start drawing the ideas I have in mind. Initially, I explored focusing on Pisco (Peru’s national spirit), but after consulting with Dr. Cairo, I decided to broaden the scope to include the full spectrum of Peruvian gastronomy. This pivot allowed me to tackle a more complex information hierarchy. I sketched out a layout that mimicked a traditional table setting, eventually narrowing the focus to a specific signature dish and its regional origins to keep the viewer centered on a single, clear narrative.
02
Data acquisition & analysis
I gathered data from several primary sources to ensure an impartial and accurate representation. This included Marca Perú and PromPerú for cultural and export data, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) for tourism demographics, and the World Economic Forum for global competitive rankings. I spent significant time cleaning and organizing this data to find the intersection between tourism trends and culinary diversity, ensuring every data point served the final story.
03
Visualization design
I followed a structured 'boxes-first' approach to define the visual hierarchy before moving into high-fidelity design. One of the most impactful design choices came from a suggestion by Dr. Cairo: replacing a flat regional map with a detailed relief map. I traced the topography using Google Earth data to illustrate how Peru’s three distinct zones, Coast, Highlands, and Jungle, directly dictate its culinary output. This technical exercise in Adobe Illustrator and Flourish was instrumental in teaching me how to use geography as a storytelling anchor.
The final visualization
All Projects
A journey through surprising culinary delights
The challenge
Created as the final project for the 'Introduction to Data Visualization & Infographics' course led by Dr. Alberto Cairo, a renowned leader in the field, this project was an exercise in information architecture and visual storytelling. The challenge was to identify a complex dataset, synthesize the narrative, and design an infographic optimized for both web and mobile. Over a rigorous four-week cycle, the project followed an iterative feedback loop with Professor Cairo and my peers to ensure the data remained both accurate and engaging.
The solution
I chose to highlight Peruvian cuisine as a gateway to understanding the country's immense biodiversity. While Peru is famous for its history, its global culinary reputation offers a richer dataset for exploring regional identity. I structured the infographic in two parts: first, a statistical overview of Peruvian tourism, followed by a geographic breakdown of regional cuisines. By visualizing how altitude and climate shape local ingredients, I created a narrative that explains why Peruvian food is so diverse, making the abstract concept of 'biodiversity' tangible through the lens of gastronomy.
Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Flourish
Methods
Research, Sketching, Data Visualization
Context
Dataviz Designer
Data visualization Infographics Class Spring 2019 - 6 weeks