Who doesn’t love water? We all use it. We drink it. We swim in it. We try to conserve it. But how informed are we, really, about the range of its uses, other than those of our own, and the plethora of dangers that challenge its purity? I, for one, am always thirsty for more information. Recently, I came across a gorgeous, interactive website, Waterlife, that gave me pause. It’s not about all water, just that found in the Great Lakes region – an area that contains 20% of the earth’s remaining natural fresh water supply. Fascinating, no?
The site takes a moment to load. It is worth the wait.
Upon entering the site, I am greeted by a floating collage of photos that merge into the image of a coyote – or perhaps it is a wolf, or a dog. Each photo leads to a different story, told via beautifully shot video and straightforward text. Thus far, my favorite is “Water Is Poison,” about the Beluga whales at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.
The site is in support of a Canadian-funded documentary, Waterlife, written and directed by Kevin McMahon. It won the Hotdocs 2009 Special Jury Prize for Canadian features. Unfortunately, it’s currently only being shown in Canada. Hopefully, however, it will float down to a Southern California cinema soon. In the meantime, I’ll check back in with the coyote.
The message of Waterlife isn’t particularly new, or terribly pallatable – some statistics are truly horrifying. This interactive website, however, conveys that message in such a way – through cool graphics, compelling data and interactive storytelling – that I am inexorably drawn in and willing to take note. That’s what I consider successful communicating.
Check it out, and let me know what you think.
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