In this episode, we explore the visual essay “What Are We Searching For?” — a creative project built on Google Trends data that reveals the stories behind our daily searches. Designer Michelle Rial and data analyst Raphael Lee collaborated with editor Keila Guimarães to examine 549 search topics across 50 countries during one week in May 2021.

Instead of focusing only on numbers, the project highlights the human side of search queries — what we ask at odd hours, what patterns repeat, and what these searches say about us. Along the way, we discuss the creative process, the many chart ideas that were left behind, and the shift from strict data visualization to narrative-driven storytelling.

Join us as we uncover how data can become art — and how our searches reflect both curiosity and connection.