Skeuomorphism through a minimal lens

Most content sections follow a predictable formula: flashy homepage, cookie-cutter blog layouts. It's a well-worn pattern, and ripe for a rethink.

Coreline's website needed a natural home for the team's thoughtful, evergreen content, added at a slower cadence than your typical blog posts.

A skeuomorphic design language to present posts as books on an interactive bookshelf was initially a challenge because of the site's minimalistic design language, but worth exploring. Articles appear as books on a shelf, and on hover, one lifts off, as if plucked by hand.

Can we make it even more realistic?

To add extra depth, we incorporated sound: real samples of books shifting and being pulled from shelves, recorded specifically for this interaction.

The audio cues enhance the sense of tactility and draw users further into the experience. It's a detail that makes the digital feel physical.

Sound polishing

To make sure the audio matched the feel of the site, we polished the recorded samples. We moved the samples into Adobe Audition, cleared background noise and added subtle fades to create a more natural effect with seamless beginnings and endings.

Here's how it all comes together

Experience it in full with sound.