Doors Closed Website Documentary Project
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Gate Agency created "Doors Closed," a documentary photo project capturing Ukrainian businesses' reactions to the crisis. Business people from various cities shared their experiences of having to close their companies due to the pandemic, telling stories of humility, determination, hope, and resilience.
Dima Boychuk, Hexagon's partner and then-CEO, participated in the project and suggested creating a website to make these stories accessible. We aimed to avoid the dull, monotonous nature of typical social project websites and instead create an impactful and easily navigable site, allowing users to freely explore or filter stories by specific inquiries, businesses, or cities.
The homepage features a looping horizontal scroll to ensure all materials are visible, supporting our idea of continuous engagement. A timer on the main page counts the time since quarantine began and game rules changed. The four website color schemes—morning, daytime, evening, and nighttime—change throughout the day, emphasizing the fluidity of time.
In line with the Bauhaus "kleinschreibung" concept, the site uses lowercase text to symbolize democracy and equality, reflecting how the pandemic equalized everyone's circumstances.
Our goal was to ensure the project was memorable not only for its mission but also for its presentation. The infinite scroll, thoughtful typography, compelling stories, and symbolic design make the project poetic and inspiring. We helped life-affirming stories be heard, encouraging resilience and hope in the face of crisis.
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