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Friends of Minidoka, supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, sought to create a brand and engaging virtual experience to tell the complex and often overlooked stories of Japanese Americans before, during, and after World War II. With very little awareness in American history, Beyond the Barbed Wire aimed to connect with a broad audience, including those who may not have physical access to the Minidoka site, and effectively convey these narratives in a way that resonated emotionally and encouraged action against injustice. Stoltz was thrilled with the opportunity to create a brand and user experience for such an incredible cause.
Beyond the Barbed Wire explores a powerful chronicle of Japanese American resilience across our country’s history before, during, and after World War II. Virtual monuments bring unmarked and often forgotten landmarks to life through true stories, photographs, and artifacts while providing rich context to the living continuum of the Japanese American experience. The project consists of a series of tours accessible via a web app and website. It transforms the stories of Japanese Americans through oral histories, narration, and visual content. Stoltz was challenged to design a meaningful brand and create a flexible digital platform, allowing users to experience these stories from anywhere. The first tour, Resisters of the Pacific Northwest, launched in early September 2024. Beyond the Barbed Wire is a powerful tool for creating empathy, providing historically accurate information, and educating the audience on systemic injustice.
After touring the Minidoka National Historic Site, pouring over research documents, listening to stories, and exploring Japanese art for creative inspiration, the Stoltz team thoughtfully designed a brand that captured the resilience, beauty, and harsh realities throughout Japanese American History. We then translated the audio and visual stories into a sophisticated digital web app and website, carefully planning the user journey with architecture, wireframes, and user experience best practices. The digital experience was also designed to eventually support 12 more tours. The brand and web app launched in early September 2024. The Mellon Foundation has agreed to fund phase two of the project, which will expand its impact nationwide!
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