Human things landingpage showcasing a telescope, a stone tool and an early computer (design by Nahuel Gerth)

Human Things — A brief history of mankind

How can we make such a wide topic as history and human development understandable? How can we portion the flood of information for the user and make it digestible? The result of these starting questions is an experimental storytelling website.

The evolution of human tools serves as the main narrative for this project. It allows us to navigate through history with a clear focus. We can easily compare vast timelines from more than 3 million years ago till today. From stone tools to smartphones in one single website.

The visual design system is primarily concerned with clarity and user navigation. Distinct colour codes mark different periods of history. A hierarchical typographic system provides orientation and structured information. The tools – the main storytelling device for this project – are rendered directly in the browser with 3D technology and are spiced up with interactions and animations.

2021
  • Storytelling
  • Information Design
  • Webdesign
video play button
video play button
Interactive 3D model of a modern telescope on green ground (design by Nahuel Gerth)
Overview layout with a table of periods and time frames including prehistory, ancient age, medieval age, modern age and contemporary age (design by Nahuel Gerth)
Human things mobile layout with side navigation through different time periods (design by Nahuel Gerth)
Interactive 3D model of a prehistorical stone tool on yellow ground (design by Nahuel Gerth)
video play button
video play button
Interactive 3D model of Mesopotamian kuneiform type on red ground (design by Nahuel Gerth)
Interactive 3D model of an early computer on purple ground (design by Nahuel Gerth)
Interactive 3D model of a medieval printing press on blue ground (design by Nahuel Gerth)