Analysis of Covid-19: The global crisis
Exploring the techniques used in this article by the Financial Times
From the examples of interactivity that I went through, this piece by the Financial Times stood out.
Immediately, the looped videos in the background provide a sense of place as we are shown some of the memorable shots of the pandemic.
From Boris Johnson clapping to the protests over masks, we are both reminded of what happened in the past, but as readers, we acknowledge the fact we are still living in a global crisis.
The article itself is reflecting on data and events, yet you still feel like you are in the present tense.
Scrollytelling is used with text and visuals appearing as you progress through the article.
The narrative is clear, and while readers might not have an element of control over the content, it does not detract from its immersive nature.
Although, readers can move through the article at their own pace.
Also, there is a substantial amount of text to interpret so the coinciding graphics merely tell the story in a different way.
The balance between animated visuals, text and still images is effective. We are drawn to the initial movement and then are allowed to focus on the accompanying text for further background information.
An editorial decision has been made here to only use consultation as a method of communicating (Jensen 1998). Data is presented in several different ways with line charts, chloropleths and bar charts all visualising the pandemic differently.
The reader can specifically choose what to look at from “an existing selection of pre-generated information” (Veglis and Bratsas 2017).
There is no need for transmissional methods which would provide further information through hovers. This is because the annotations are clear and the readers are presented with everything they need to perceive the purpose of communicating successfully.
The layout and structure
Cross-compatibility needs to be at the forefront of all interactive projects.
Desktop, tablet and mobile versions all have different dimensions.
After inspecting the article, this is what it looked like on mobile:
The design is clean and making sure the graphics were fit for different platforms was discussed.
As for the structure, Covid-19: The global crisis follows a threaded narrative. It tells the story from multiple points of view — starting in China, then to Europe and investigates economic comparisons towards the end.
These story angles provide variety to the ongoing narrative but are inexplicably linked to the Coronavirus.
The perfect balance
To say this piece of work is interactive would be an understatement.
It has a unique blend of immersive elements alongside traditional story-telling techniques. They come together to form an excellent visual depiction of the many ways Covid-19 has left the world in a crisis.
Link to the article: https://ig.ft.com/coronavirus-global-data/
