Science on a Sphere Museum display
Explore, compare, & understand: The Evolution of the Most Spoken Languages
Explore, compare, & understand: The Evolution of the Most Spoken Languages
Explore, compare, & understand: The Evolution of the Most Spoken Languages
My Role
My Role
UI/UX Design, & Motion Design,
UI/UX Design, & Motion Design,
Team
Team
4 UI/UX Designers
4 UI/UX Designers
Duration
Duration
8 weeks
Fall 2024
8 weeks
Fall 2024
Sponsored by
Sponsored by
Durham Museum of Life and Science
Durham Museum of Life and Science
background
The Museum of Life and Science, located in Durham, NC, uses large-scale, immersive displays to make data and research more engaging for visitors. One of its key installations is Science On a Sphere (SOS), a room-sized global display system. It uses multiple projectors to cast data onto a six-foot sphere, turning complex information into interactive visuals. The system helps audiences explore topics like weather, climate, oceans, and global patterns in a way that feels educational and experiential.
The Museum of Life and Science, located in Durham, NC, uses large-scale, immersive displays to make data and research more engaging for visitors. One of its key installations is Science On a Sphere (SOS), a room-sized global display system. It uses multiple projectors to cast data onto a six-foot sphere, turning complex information into interactive visuals. The system helps audiences explore topics like weather, climate, oceans, and global patterns in a way that feels educational and experiential.
Create a new dataset catalog that could expand what SOS communicates and spark curiosity, education, and interactivity.
Create a new dataset catalog that could expand what SOS communicates and spark curiosity, education, and interactivity.
Deliverables
Introducing Word Wanderers
A dataset that visualizes how the world’s most spoken languages have evolved over the last century. Displayed on the SOS globe, visitors can see languages spread, shrink, and shift across regions over time, influenced by migration, colonization, and cultural exchange.
A dataset that visualizes how the world’s most spoken languages have evolved over the last century. Displayed on the SOS globe, visitors can see languages spread, shrink, and shift across regions over time, influenced by migration, colonization, and cultural exchange.
A dataset that visualizes how the world’s most spoken languages have evolved over the last century. Displayed on the SOS globe, visitors can see languages spread, shrink, and shift across regions over time, influenced by migration, colonization, and cultural exchange.
Full Prototype - Part 1
Full Prototype - Part 2
Breaking down the process
Research
What the SOS Catalog Already Offers
What the SOS Catalog Offers
The Science On a Sphere catalog features hundreds of datasets from NOAA, NASA, and other research organizations. Topics range from climate change and ocean systems to population growth, natural disasters, and global events. While the collection is broad and scientifically rich, most datasets focus on environmental and geophysical information, leaving room to explore cultural and linguistic stories in new ways.
The Science On a Sphere catalog features hundreds of datasets from NOAA, NASA, and other research organizations. Topics range from climate change and ocean systems to population growth, natural disasters, and global events. While the collection is broad and scientifically rich, most datasets focus on environmental and geophysical information, leaving room to explore cultural and linguistic stories in new ways.
Finding a story within the data
We brainstormed topics that could connect to a broad audience while using large, data-rich sources. We discovered a dataset on the world’s most spoken languages over the past century, which felt universally relatable and full of storytelling potential.
We brainstormed topics that could connect to a broad audience while using large, data-rich sources. We discovered a dataset on the world’s most spoken languages over the past century, which felt universally relatable and full of storytelling potential.
Determining the target audience
We wanted adults and parents to have content to explore too, not just children.
We wanted adults and parents to have content to explore too.
Although the museum attracts families and school groups, we wanted to design something that also engaged adults and young adults. They are typically the people who might come with their children but crave depth, storytelling, and connection. Our goal was to create something approachable but still intellectually rewarding.
Although the museum attracts families and school groups, we wanted to design something that also engaged adults and young adults. They are typically the people who might come with their children but crave depth, storytelling, and connection. Our goal was to create something approachable but still intellectually rewarding.
making the connections
We connected language shifts to major events like WWII, globalization, and COVID-19, then condensed which to highlight.
We found a dataset showing the world’s most spoken languages over the last century. That led us to start exploring how world events like colonization, wars, and globalization changed the way people spoke. We started categorizing those events to understand their influence, grouping them by factors like war, migration, education, and culture.
We found a dataset showing the world’s most spoken languages over the last century. That led us to start exploring how world events like colonization, wars, and globalization changed the way people spoke. We started categorizing those events to understand their influence, grouping them by factors like war, migration, education, and culture.
running into a conflict
When There’s Too Much of a Good Thing
When There's Too Much of a Good Thing
Once we started digging deeper, we hit a wall: there was just so much data. Every event, every region, every language had a story, and we couldn’t possibly show them all. The challenge was finding balance: how do we make it visually rich without overwhelming people? We debated whether to zoom into one major event or show a high-level overview of multiple moments in history. After testing a few versions, we realized that the broader overview created more curiosity. It gave viewers a reason to ask questions and explore more later.
Once we started digging deeper, we hit a wall: there was just so much data. Every event, every region, every language had a story, and we couldn’t possibly show them all. The challenge was finding balance: how do we make it visually rich without overwhelming people? We debated whether to zoom into one major event or show a high-level overview of multiple moments in history. After testing a few versions, we realized that the broader overview created more curiosity. It gave viewers a reason to ask questions and explore more later.
building the storyboard
We broke down each section, focused on one event, featuring the languages most impacted, the causes, visualizations, and the narration.
We broke down each section, focused on one event, featuring the languages most impacted, the causes, visualizations, and the narration.
Turning raw data into something visually meaningful was the fun (and challenging) part. We wanted to avoid charts that felt cold or academic, so we leaned into rhythm, color, and movement. Each visualization was designed to flow with the narration. The focus wasn’t just on accuracy but on helping people see patterns and feel connections between history, migration, and culture.
Turning raw data into something visually meaningful was the fun (and challenging) part. We wanted to avoid charts that felt cold or academic, so we leaned into rhythm, color, and movement. Each visualization was designed to flow with the narration. The focus wasn’t just on accuracy but on helping people see patterns and feel connections between history, migration, and culture.
Making the Visuals
At the core of this project was data visualization.
We spent a lot of time creating the charts needed to make meaningful comparisons. Many times, we wanted to make something bold and innovative, but we realized that the most effective visuals are often the simplest ones. The “basic” charts exist for a reason because they work brudung the gap between complex raw data and understandable data stories. So we kept that as our foundation while layering on video and design principles like zooming, scale, and color to bring the data to life. Each chart helped show how the most spoken languages shifted over time.
We spent a lot of time creating the charts needed to make meaningful comparisons. Many times, we wanted to make something bold and innovative, but we realized that the most effective visuals are often the simplest ones. The “basic” charts exist for a reason because they work brudung the gap between complex raw data and understandable data stories. So we kept that as our foundation while layering on video and design principles like zooming, scale, and color to bring the data to life. Each chart helped show how the most spoken languages shifted over time.
iteration and refinement
We tested pacing and clarity to ensure the final piece remained engaging yet digestible.
Refinement was about creating rhythm and hierarchy, deciding what deserved focus and what could fade into the background. We adjusted pacing, cleaned transitions, and tested flow until every element felt balanced within the larger story. We kept chapters cohesive while highlighting the important information first.
Refinement was about creating rhythm and hierarchy, deciding what deserved focus and what could fade into the background. We adjusted pacing, cleaned transitions, and tested flow until every element felt balanced within the larger story. We kept chapters cohesive while highlighting the important information first.
Impact / Reflection / Future
What I Learned
I learned how to marry both data and video storytelling. Finding the balance between accuracy and emotion was key to making the story meaningful and easy to follow.
What Stood Out
The positive feedback for choosing an innovative topic stood out most. It opened the museum’s mind to new categories they could explore in future SOS exhibits.
Takeaway
Connecting real-life experiences through design can spark emotion and curiosity. When people feel something, they’re more likely to stay engaged and want to learn more.
Growth Moment
I realized that UX concepts follow no matter the output. Whether it’s an interface or a museum display, users always come first.
Future Opportunities
There’s potential to expand this project with more chapters or themes. It could continue evolving into a larger series that explores other cultural and historical connections through language.
Thank you for being here :)
Lets connect and talk about my projects or anything design!
Created with curiosity, passion, & the occasional coffee ©2025 Amaya Hush
Thank you for being here :)
Lets connect and talk about my projects or anything design!
Created with curiosity, passion, & the occasional coffee ©2025 Amaya Hush
Thank you for being here :)
Lets connect and talk about my projects or anything design!
Created with curiosity, passion, & the occasional coffee ©2025 Amaya Hush