Illustrating Digital Legacy

Every time we create, download, use or share data our computers and devices are using electricity which all contributes to global warming. But what about the impact of the data we no longer need?

For example: old e-mails and documents, photos, social media messages… Is all the digital content necessary? Is there maybe a silicon heaven where our data goes to die? Unfortunately, there isn’t, so we need to take responsibility for the situation.

About this artwork

Today, I want to share with you the illustrations I did at Nexer’s kick-off a few days ago. The event took place in the Whirligig Woods (Manchester), where we were split into teams and given the daunting task of trying to improve sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of our digital activity.

First of all, let me tell you how cool this whole initiative was. Nexer Digital aims to inspire change through tech, encouraging us to explore the future of technology through a lens of reflection, connection and optimism — so it wasn’t all just hard work! We were given some inspiring challenges/scenarios, like looking at the sustainability of our supply chain, helping clients make greener choices or reducing our digital legacy.

I was part of the digital legacy team/challenge. We spent the day brainstorming ideas on how to reduce the environmental impact of our data after we are gone or are no longer in need of it. These drawings aim to illustrate some of those points.

I would love for more people to be able to use them! Feel free to download for your personal or commercial, environmentally-focused projects! You don’t have to credit me, but if you want you can link to my social profiles (@marmurube both on Twitter and Instagram).

⬇️ Click here to download the illustrations ⬇️

CC0 Free for commercial or personal use by Mar Murube