Waterlife http://waterlife.nfb.ca/
All I can say about this website is WOW! This is one of the most beautiful and well designed sites I have seen in a while. This is a work of art in my opinion, a piece that not only captures the audience, but creates an emotional impact as well. One of the most interesting features of the site is the loading graphic. In many flash sites there is a progress bar, a clock, or something of that nature that someone can look at while the site is loading. Waterlife created an interactive wave that enable the user to “play” with something while they wait for the site. I would consider this an appetizer to a spectacular meal. The progress is not only designed well, but is mesmerizing, fluid and organic.
This website was obviously intended for larger monitors with high resolution. The site starts with many different thumbnails that fly around and create large mosaics to represent menu items. For example, the invasive species menu generates a seahorse. The site continues to act alive and ever in motion emulating the bodies of water it is trying to educate us on. There is a story with narrative for each of the menu items. The story for each item includes ambient music in the background which also emulates a peaceful setting. Video plays during each of the menus in a large screen format. There are also silhouettes moving within each of the background carrying content, such as little dredgers digging for the dredging section. Again, like the Lakes, the website is on constant motion.
For the most part, the website is beautiful and serene, like the lakes that they represent. Each page mode and navigation item is a working piece of art in motion. The site in inspirational, captivating and full of the essence that the Great Lakes carries. Truly a mesmerizing work of art.
Speak Visual -