BBC Launches Story of Life App with AKQA

Since Attenborough returned to our screens with his recently-released Planet Earth 2, Sunday evenings can again be spent curled up in front of the TV learning about the wonders of the world.

Episodes have already hijacked other popular programmes, threatening ratings on reality shows like Strictly Come Dancing and I’m A Celebrity, while dominating conversation for the week ahead – just look at the number of memes that emerged after that snake scene.

So, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the BBC has today launched the Story of Life – a new app that celebrates the naturalist’s career.

This year Attenborough turned 90 and the app acts as a way to continue his legacy, by offering the public an educational and entertaining resource full of his most memorable moments.

With over 1,000 clips available, users can scroll through more than five decades worth of broadcasting and jump between animals, locations and behaviour types to learn more about our planet. The app also encourages users to make their own collections from the archive footage, although suggested collections can also be downloaded.

Available for free here, AKQA are the technologists behind the app’s creation so shots caught up with the agency’s executive business director Brian Snyder, creative director James Chorley and UX director Ben Gonshaw and BBC Earth editor Matt Walker to find out just what it took to bring this body of work to life. And look out for a Q&A on Facebook Live with Attenborough himself on on Nov 22nd.

AKQA's Brian Snyder (L), Ben Gonshaw and James Chorley (R):

What was the brief with which the BBC approached you for the project?

Snyder: Sir David Attenborough has been an integral part of the BBC’s natural history output for over 60 years. Our brief was to harness this knowledge and introduce the natural world to a brand new digital savvy audience. We wanted to create an enduring legacy to embody Sir David’s work and values, one that was grounded in science, but accessible and innovative.

How did you find transforming the content, which was commissioned for TV to make it app appropriate?

Gonshaw: One of the most exciting aspects of working with BBC is their long history in creating compelling content. We needed to evolve the way we presented this TV content, which was a linear experience that reaches and caters to a mass audience, to a digital experience the viewer can define and control – accessible from any device, constantly evolving, and tailored to the individual and what they love. This is why we created short atomised content pulled from the entire collection, knitting it together through a taxonomy and algorithm we developed with BBC that would create an endless number of journeys through the natural world, that adapts based on you and your choices.

The BBC upholds a particular reputation and is known for its quality natural history programmes. How did you approach the look and style of the app so that it was suitable for the BBC?

Chorley: We always focus first and foremost on the consumer and how we create the most meaningful and useful experience for them so from a design perspective it was all about two key things.

The first was to celebrate that amazing content the BBC has by creating a simple and beautiful interface which could get out the way and made that content the hero. The second was to design something that allowed consumers to easily navigate their way through over 1000 clips from over 60 years of programming and create their own collection from those clips in an easy, clear but fun way.

This resulted in a look and feel that was inspired by the three generations of camera operators, who have braved the most extreme environments on our planet to capture jaw-dropping visuals of life on Earth. Given that Sir David brings you life through the lens, the app’s interface centres on the use of circular shapes and gestures, that literally bring the natural world into focus.

How closely did you work with Attenborough and how did you find him?

Gonshaw: Working with Sir David Attenborough has been an absolutely amazing and humbling experience, given how much impact and influence he has had on so many generations. It’s very rare to have access to that level of expertise so to work with him in such a collaborative way was incredible. His feedback and input was so valuable and his boundless enthusiasm was always a source of inspiration.

Matt Walker, Editor for BBC Earth:

Where did the inspiration for the app come from and how did you approach the project?

The inspiration came from the incredible work David Attenborough has built over many years. We wanted to create a place where anyone who loves natural history and David Attenborough’s work could find all of his greatest moments, in one place.

How involved was Attenborough on bringing the app to life?

David Attenborough has been involved at every stage; his vision for the app was to make all of these collections accessible to everyone worldwide. Sir David has himself curated and introduces more than 10 featured collections within the app, including some of his favourite clips, such as thrilling hunts, birds-of-paradise, fossils, nocturnal animals and deep sea creatures.

You included over 1000 of Attenborough’s most memorable moments on film. What was the selection process like and what sort of clips were you looking to feature?

A lot of these clips are popular moments that audiences know and love throughout David’s many documentary series. We’ve selected individual stories that make sense when watched in isolation. And clips that naturally enthrall and educate audiences. The selection process was relatively easy, as so many of these epic moments speak for themselves. The clips are varied in length, due to a growing trend for short form content we wanted the average time for each clip to be approx. three minutes long.

What were the biggest challenges in bringing the app to life? I know you had some difficulties simplifying animal names…

We had to ensure the app was scientifically accurate, but also accessible to audiences who may not know many of the technical terms for organisms. At times that could be challenging, some animals are so little known or esoteric that they almost defy our ability to describe them. But we were helped by Sir David’s expertise; one of his great skills is to communicate the wonder and complexity of the natural world to people from all backgrounds.

And what was it like to work with Attenborough? Any words of wisdom that you can pass on?

The remarkable thing about Sir David is how interested he is in new innovations. What new technology is available that helps communicate stories about the natural world. Examples might be improvements to filming kit, such as night vision cameras, or drones, that can reveal habitats and animal behaviours as never before. To innovations in the way audiences can hear these stories. One reason Sir David is so excited by the app, is that it will change the way audiences can watch his programmes, and interact with them.