Zoonomia
The Zoonomia Project is an international genomic research initiative dedicated to uncovering the genetic basis of traits shared across mammals. It provides an open‑source platform of aligned genomes, conservation scores, and phylogeny data for use by researchers in human medicine, biodiversity conservation, and comparative biology. Zoonomia also engages citizen scientists with dynamic interactive experiences that make complex genomic data accessible and engaging.
Services
Digital Strategy
UX/UI Design
Experience Design + Development
The Challenge
Zoonomia required a digital presence that could support two distinct yet connected audiences: professional researchers needing fast access to large datasets, and curious learners seeking discovery through interactive tools. The platform had to present complex scientific information clearly and intuitively, while making advanced genomic data navigable and engaging for users of varying expertise.
The project’s name, Zoonomia,combines the Greek terms for “animal” and “governing laws,” capturing its mission to uncover the biological principles that unite and differentiate mammalian life. It also references the writings of Erasmus Darwin, connecting the platform’s scientific rigor to a deeper historical context. Our challenge was to bring that meaning to life through a design system that balances precision with accessibility, depth with discovery.
Digital Strategy
Our strategic approach began by mapping the needs of two core user groups: scientists and citizen scientists. We explored how each would engage with the data, from high-level project overviews to deep dives into species-specific information. These insights informed the site’s content structure, interaction patterns, and overall experience design.
The platform functions as both a scientific database and a space for discovery, bringing together academic research and public exploration through a unified digital experience. The name Zoonomia reflects this dual mission. A combination of the Greek terms for “animal” and “governing laws,” it encapsulates the project’s goal to uncover the principles behind mammalian diversity. It also nods to the writings of Erasmus Darwin, grounding the work in both science and history.
UX/UI
User experience design focused on clarity, efficiency, and seamless interaction with complex datasets. Navigation structures were designed to help users move easily between high‑level overviews and detailed genomic information. Interface elements were crafted to reduce cognitive load, guiding users toward relevant data and insights. Visual hierarchy, typography, and layout were optimized for readability and quick scanning across both desktop and tablet screens.
Creative Direction
The creative concept was built around the idea of shared discovery, celebrating the unique bond between people and their pets as a gateway to meaningful science. We combined a warm, optimistic tone with a visual language that felt both credible and inviting. Organic shapes, friendly typography, and real participant stories grounded the experience in humanity, while subtle data-driven cues reminded users of the science they were part of. The result was a brand that felt open, trustworthy, and genuinely collaborative.
Experience Design
The experience design and development phase brought the digital strategy and UX/UI work to life. A key interactive feature of the platform is the Mammalian Tree, an exploration tool comprising 240 mammalian species. Users can interact with the tree, filter by metrics using color delineation, and dive directly into species‑specific genomic data. Creative coding techniques were used to animate key visual elements, particularly on the landing page, where motion helps first‑time visitors understand the project’s scope and significance at a glance.
Development focused on performance, accessibility, and scalability, ensuring that researchers could quickly retrieve large datasets while maintaining responsive interactive features for broader audiences.
The Results
Zoonomia’s redesigned platform successfully bridges the gap between data intensity and user accessibility. Researchers benefit from clear pathways to genomic resources and datasets, while citizen scientists and learners are engaged through interactive tools and visual storytelling. The platform’s intuitive structure and interactive features encourage deeper exploration of mammalian genomics, supporting both scientific discovery and broader community engagement. The overall experience reflects the project’s mission — to make comparative genomics both usable and inspiring for all who visit.