Published Aug. 1, 2019

LAist

   About this project

I was actually brought into this project after all the assets had been completed, which is contrary to how I normally work. I usually try to be in on the initial planning meetings so that I can shape the digital design and assets to fit the content and start to formulate ideas early on. The story was considered so compelling and well-done that the reporter's editors requested a special story presentation to make it stand out online. Though this was a different process, it worked out really well.

Because all the text, photos, video and radio had already been edited, I didn't have to wait for anything to be completed to finish work on my end. I was also able to lay everything out at once rather than using placeholders. When I saw it all together, I showed it to the reporter. She told me that she had additional video snippets and photos that she had taken on her iPhone aside from what the photographer had given me.

This was a treasure trove for me. I was able to turn what would've been cutting room floor detritus into integral parts of the storytelling. I made GIFs from the video clips and included her photos for context, even turning one into the main photo illustration. Those components added richness and depth to an already powerful story. Again, I used my custom audio widget, that includes a running transcript synced with the audio, for an even cleaner user experience and increased accessiblity.

   My role

UI/UX design

Front-end development

Digital illustration

Audio production

   Awards

Radio Television Digital News Association's Regional Edward R. Murrow Award
Feature Reporting - Large Market Radio, 2020