Otto van den Toorn is an acclaimed beauty and fashion photographer from the Netherlands. Following the success of his award-winning portfolio website launched in 2016, we reimagined his digital presence, transforming it into a dynamic and seamless world of exploration.
The core of the experience was to keep Otto’s photography as the focal point, using the visuals to guide visitors through the journey with minimal distraction from the UI. We aimed to craft a dynamic UI that provided support and contextual information while encouraging exploration, creating a seamless experience that moves beyond traditional web page structures.
The result is an immersive space where Otto’s breathtaking photography flows seamlessly from one state to the next, replacing the conventional feel of separate pages. Navigation is handled by a single dynamic UI element that not only guides users but also displays relevant information as needed.
Given Otto’s rich and expansive body of work, we designed a space to inspire exploration and discovery, allowing content to move fluidly from broader views to intricate details. This design gives the impression of moving through a world, rather than simply browsing a conventional website.
A single, dynamic UI element powers the experience, intelligently adapting its appearance based on page content and interactions. It also serves as a display area, offering helpful hints and information to assist visitors, making navigation seamless and enjoyable.
Within the image gallery, the dynamic UI element transforms into a quick and easy-to-use zoom tool, allowing visitors to closely inspect the finest details of the photography without any distractions. Visitors can also adjust the background color, choosing from multiple contrast settings for an enhanced viewing experience, ensuring the photography remains the focal point.
To bring Otto’s biography to life, we reversed roles and had him step in front of the camera, capturing colorful atmospheric silhouettes for each chapter. This approach gives visitors a personal glimpse of Otto and highlights the visual approach at the heart of his work.
Challenging the status quo and pushing for frontier setting innovation requires a bold brand presence, one which not only encapsulates but carries this vision forward. Working closely with Exo Ape to bring this into reality has been an incredibly rewarding and meaningful journey for us at Amaterasu. The team’s above and beyond commitment to pushing boundaries has set the foundations for Amaterasu’s brand identity masterfully.
On mobile, the dynamic UI element takes center stage, offering a fluid, app-inspired experience. Recognizable gestures like ‘tap for next,’ commonly used on social media, ensure the journey feels intuitive, simple, and immersive.