underwear uncovered
Data Visualization/ Print/ packaging/ copywriting
Underwear Uncovered is a data visualization project that analyzes trends in women’s underwear preferences across the U.S. We examined the top 100 most-reviewed underwear products from leading brands, tracking attributes such as cut, material, price, and user ratings. Each colored thread in the visualization represents one product, weaving together a visual tapestry of intimate consumer insights. Six packaging variations correspond to the most popular underwear cuts, each wrapped in a pattern generated from the most frequently used keywords in product reviews.
ABOUTTeam MembersRenjia Wang, Dysen Stoks
Supervising ProfessorHolly Quarzo
Year of Completion2023
Our team was initially drawn to the contrast between media portrayals of lingerie—typically hypersexualized—and the reality of why women actually buy underwear. After combing through hundreds of product reviews, we found a clear pattern: women overwhelmingly prioritize practicality, comfort, and fit over fantasy. This insight felt both surprising and empowering, and it inspired us to create a mock brand that celebrates women’s real preferences—grounding the design in data while challenging cultural assumptions.
THE SPARKTo translate the data into something tactile and meaningful, we chose to use physical thread as our core medium—literally deconstructing the subject of underwear through form and material. Though labor-intensive, the use of real thread allowed us to emphasize the softness and intimacy of the topic, while also creating a striking visual result.
Each product was tracked across five variables—cut, material, brand, price, and review rating—resulting in a dynamic system of data threads. These were paired with minimal geometric layouts to reflect the practicality behind most purchasing decisions. We then analyzed review language by cut type and translated that into unique packaging patterns, giving each variant its own personality based on how women described it in their own words.
The result is a design that is both visually elegant and quietly radical—transforming cold, complex data into something personal, empowering, and worth celebrating.
PROCESSDiscover the data set.
Learn about the full process.
