The lesson
Open a long data essay with one image that shows the idea, and give readers a sound choice before they scroll.
The move
The opening screen is a cream page with a family-tree diagram of album covers, dated 1895, 1964, 1968 and 1973, all joined into one record at the bottom. Below it a single sentence reads "This is a project about shared DNA in music." Two buttons follow: a pink "Begin (with music!)" and a dark "Stay Muted".
Why it works
- Our readThe tree makes the thesis visible before any text explains it, so a reader understands the metaphor on sight.
- Our readOffering sound on or off at the start lets the reader opt in to the audio instead of being surprised by it.
- Our readOne sentence and two buttons leave nothing else competing on the screen.
What not to copy
Only the opening is visible, so don’t assume how the scrolling works. Keep one illustrative diagram plus an audio choice. Skip a music metaphor if your subject has none.
