Refugee Republic is an interactive documentary that allows the user to observe everyday life in Domiz Camp, a Syrian refugee camp in northern Iraq. The combination of video, sound, still imagery and illustrations creates a sensory experience that is easy to get lost in. The sound is phenomenal and extremely immersive.

Looping video content and immersive sound can be experienced in most interactive documentaries, but this is the first project that has forced me to close my eyes--and keep them closed--in order to experience a story. I could do without the voiceover narration, but quite simply this site is stunning and gives me chills. The experience invites you to reflect on the memories of a tsunami, as if you lived through the disaster.

An interactive and ongoing exploration of the process of making an album from songwriting to performance to mixing. J.Viewz offers fans an intimate look into his process, struggles and allows them to download and remix tracks. A hands-on experience that allows the user to be as creative, as the creator of the project.

The Counted explores the numbers and demographics of individuals killed by police in the United States. Staring at the black and white photographs of the victims, exploring the data, and occasionally seeing that number count rise is enough to send chills up my spine. The user can also be part of this experience by helping report deaths.

I first saw this project in 2013 and it has stayed with me ever since. It's a great example of how to use data to tell an emotional story that would otherwise feel distant and statistical.