Brian Swarthout

A well documented journey around the sun.

Time Well Spent is a data-driven visual expression of traveling North America and living simply.

I took a year-long road trip to climb and hike throughout the United States and Canada. While touring, I kept scrupulous records of my travels.

Every transaction, location and sunset are among the thousands of data points powering animations that chronicle the 447 day journey in meticulous detail.

The frugality of this simple lifestyle is illustrated through painstakingly accurate data visualizations juxtaposed with playful minimalism.

What began as a neurotic way to track spending and extend the trip as long as possible, ended up in countless hours spent scouring bank statements, navigation history and weather calendars to build a robust data set surrounding the travels.