The Last Voices of World War II
To bring to life the dramatic experiences of veterans, I paired portraits with compelling quotes and short biographies. The challenge was to create a visually exciting approach that could sustain 56 pages with 21 essays using mostly vertical images. I did this by varying the size of portraits and adding pull quotes and historic images. Double truck black-and-white archival photographs help with the pacing and take readers back to the time of the war. A gatefold graphic in the middle of the feature offers a respite. The final essay on Hiroshima showcases a stitched image of the devastation left by the atomic bomb.
The digital design features poignant audio interviews with people in the United States, Britain, Japan and Russia who vividly relate their unique experiences.
Design direction: Elaine Bradley. Portrait photography: Robert Clark. Video editing: Cosima Amelang. UX design: Oscar Alejandro Santamarina.
(Click here for the full digital experience)
©National Geographic Partners, LLC