When the Center for Civil Rights History and Research at the University of South Carolina asked Beam & Hinge to create a website that introduced new generations to South Carolina’s heroes of civil rights, the agency’s designers and developers faced the challenge: How do you turn black and white photos, faded parchment and low-fi audio and video into a captivating, moving experience for classroom and casual learners? How do you balance reverence for the subject with the digital expectations of a middle-schooler?
AND how do you do those things while adhering to the brand guidelines of a major university?
On JusticeForAllSC.org, Beam & Hinge employed interactive css animation, grid-based design, and the (somewhat unusual) tertiary color palette of the University of South Carolina to infuse the site’s primary resources with a sense of modernity. The approach allows content-rich pages to feel both skimmable and engaging.
The site is structured to draw in visitors with differing approaches to understanding history. Thematic pages allow learners to discover through-lines in the civil rights campaign, though the leaders and participants changed over time. Those preferring a linear approach can turn to the timeline, better understanding how one event led to another. Those intrigued by personal stories can learn about specific individuals and groups in the profile gallery.
The site also serves as a tool for collecting stories and artifacts pertinent to struggle for equality, particularly those held by aging generations. Visitors may submit photos and interviews for inclusion in the Justice For All exhibit and archive.
