The Washington Post
The N-Word Project
An interactive project exploring conversations around the n-word’s place in American vernacular.
The Challenge
In 2015, the National Football League ignited controversy when they decided to ban players from using the n-word on the playing field. Following that controversy, a team of Washington Post journalists spent eight months talking to people about the history of the n-word and its evolution. The project was a cross-departmental collaboration of journalists, storytellers, developers, and designers. I led UX and visual design.
Following an intro video, this text provides users with context.
Users select three statements.
Users see a custom video based on the statements they selected.
Goals
- Design and produce a compelling and broadly accessible digital experience
- Inspire users to think about multiple and varied perspectives about the n-word
- Provide sharable content that empowers people to take the conversation to social media
Credits
Roy Wilhelm—Lead Designer
Emily Chow—Developer
Emily Yount—Interaction Designer
Gabriel Silverman—Videographer
Pamela Kirkland—Producer
Awards & Recognition
Society for Features Journalism—1st Place for Digital Innovation, 2014
Society for Features Journalism—Third Place for Integrated Storytelling, 2015
SND36—Silver, Combination Print & Digital—2015
SND36—Gold, Use of Multimedia, 2015
Emmy nomination—New Approaches: Documentaries, 2015
White House News Photographer's Association—1st Place for Best Multimedia Package, 2015
