Annual Reports Interactive Installation

This cross-platform project explores 120 years’ worth of GE annual reports, spanning 1892-2011. In addition to creating a reference for this enormous collection of documents, the visualization shows how certain keywords were used over time, plotting the emergence and disappearance of themes during the lifespan of an American company.

The piece reveals a fascinating history of not only GE as a company, but also the country as a whole. The reports directly address national and world events—economic depressions, world wars, the space race, energy crises—and the challenges they brought to the company, its investors, and its customers. Accompanying images serve as visual commentary on various aspects of contemporary society and culture, from fashion trends to gender roles. Read more about the other curiosities we found in the annual reports.