Screenshot of the interactive from the BBC's 'The World at 7 Billion'
The World at 7 Billion is an interesting multiformat news package from the BBC covering global population demographics. It contains a long-form article, an interactive and several videos all linked with simple, tabbed interface.
The large-format style of the UI – particularly the interactive – make the package very approachable and engaging. There is something that is infinitely more appealing about clicking on a large, accessible ‘NEXT’ button instead of trying to hover over some tiny text in the bottom corner of the screen.
The package does a good job of using the interactive to connect readers to the stories, too. By taking a few pieces of personal information (birth date, country, sex) the interactive allows users to actively situate themselves within the narrative. Hopefully thisshould increase engagement to stories that might otherwise be seen as difficult to connect to.
(I have always found large-scale, demographic narratives to be somewhat overwhelming. Sort of a ‘hand of god’ feeling, ingrained with of a sense of the inevitable.)