Through their eyes

Project description

Our project addresses the following design challenge:
"How can we tell the story of the Shoah (Holocaust) to Gen-Z in a way that resonates with them emotionally and cognitively, using immersive media and interactive storytelling?"

Through a combination of historical research, media analysis, user testing, and animation design, we created a concept that brings the story of two Jewish brothers to life via projection-based storytelling.

Context

The project sits within the cultural and educational domain, with a specific focus on Holocaust remembrance and awareness for younger generations. As survivors and direct witnesses are becoming fewer, it becomes more crucial than ever to find new ways to pass on the history and memory of the Shoah.

The aim was to find a medium and narrative strategy that could engage Gen-Z audiences, who are digital natives and often detached from traditional historical education formats. Using immersive experiences such as theater projections and animated scenes, we explored how emotionally engaging storytelling can be used to preserve historical memory and provoke reflection.The stories we chose to focus on, based on the lives of Edo and Lex Hornemann, are real, and were adapted with sensitivity to show the human side of this historical event. Through visual design and emotional storytelling, we aim to create empathy and understanding.This project contributes to the larger societal goal of Holocaust education and countering antisemitism, disinformation, and historical detachment.

Results

Our main outcomes include:

• Validated concept: "Through their Eyes", a projection-based storytelling experience using real testimonies and character-driven animation.
• Two animated scenes: Created in Blender using the Grease Pencil tool, illustrating emotional moments like hiding in the barn and the separation from their father.
• Extensive research base: Including thematic analysis, parallels between WWII propaganda and current-day mechanisms, and user testing to confirm emotional and educational impact.
• Interactive materials: Flowcharts, user cases, interview scripts, empathy maps, moodboards, and visual research support the production process.
• User testing results: Showed significantly improved understanding, memory retention, and emotional engagement when using the animation + text versus text alone.

Watch the videos (on Google Drive)

About the project group

Our project group consists of two students from the Media Design track, both with previous education in Communication and Information Sciences and Media Design. Our shared background allowed us to blend research-based thinking with creative and visual storytelling throughout the project.

The project took place over a period of 14 weeks. We dedicated approximately 10–12 hours per week to working on it and met around four times per week for collaborative sessions. These meetings focused on brainstorming, evaluating progress, and refining our concept and animations.

Outside of group sessions, we worked individually on our assigned tasks and research questions, while staying aligned through shared documents, regular check-ins, and consistent feedback. Tools like Figma and Blender, helping us translate ideas into visuals and structure our development process.

Our collaboration was fluid and productive, with mutual support and clear communication throughout each phase.