08/22/2026
Informatics Studio Partners with RAND through a Long-term Grant from Barnes Family Foundation on a 25 Year National Study: "Social Connection in America"
Informatics Studio is leading the design, development, and ongoing support of the digital platform for Social Connection in America™, a 25-year research initiative led by RAND and funded by the Barnes Family Foundation.
Launched in 2025, the initiative is based on a nationally representative survey that measures social connection across the United States, provides reliable population estimates, identifies, and tracks changes in relationships between individuals and communities over time. The research generates insights to help organizations, national and state policymakers, researchers, and community leaders strengthen social connection and improve well-being across the country.
Our role is to translate this research into a clear, accessible, and effective digital tool that empowers various stakeholders to recognize, understand and strengthen social connections across the United States. Utilizing a principled user-centered design approach, we are creating an intuitive, instantly productive web platform that enables a wide range of audiences to explore findings, access data, and engage with the initiative’s growing body of resources. Visual design and structured content play a central role in making complex research easier to understand, communicate, and use. Informatics Studio's is providing expertise in audience evaluation, program visioning, strategy, system logic, complex information design, visual communications design, and technology development.
A key component of the platform is the development of data visualization tools that support exploration of long-term trends and state-level variation. These tools will enable users to identify patterns, compare findings, and apply insights within policy, research, and community contexts, extending the reach and practical value of RAND’s research.
Informatics Studio is also providing digital strategy to support the platform’s continued growth, including future data releases, expanded functionality, and evolving audience needs. The result is a scalable digital foundation that strengthens RAND’s ability to communicate research findings, engage stakeholders, and support informed action at national and state levels.
