Case study: Educational Website on Space Pollution

Welcome to part two of our project dedicated to the problem of space pollution, inspired by NASA research on the topic. In this behind-the-scenes look, we dive into the creative process and visual language that shaped the concept. Our 3D artists @Mike and @Barry, designer @Władysław, and animator @Vito share how the idea behind the website guided each design decision—from layout to 3D.

The website draws on ’90s tech interfaces and the precise, minimal line graphics of vintage science and space exploration magazines. The result is a retro-futuristic aesthetic that frames a very real, very current issue.

Earth is the main character of the site. Everything revolves around it—literally and narratively. We took on the ambitious task of creating our planet in 3D from scratch. The goal was to make it as beautiful as possible so the viewer could feel what’s at stake—this is the beauty we risk losing.

For the opening scene, we went with a cinematic approach: starting with a close-up and pulling away to a wide shot—all in one take. At the same time, we wanted to keep it grounded in reality. No sci-fi—just scientifically accurate beauty. We went through hundreds of references before jumping into production.

To ensure the planet looked crisp in every frame, we used 22K textures from NASA. The atmosphere was recreated using physically correct volumetrics, so light fades naturally, just like in real life. Lens effects were added later in post-production.

The second part of the animation takes us into orbit—the heart of the project’s theme: space debris. This is where we explore potential solutions to the problem.

We had to strike a balance between clarity and visual harmony. We explored dozens of visual directions—realistic objects, fragment clouds, abstract shapes, collisions, tracers. Most were either too distracting or turned the scene into visual noise.

In the end, we went with a more graphic and metaphorical approach. It gave us the right level of abstraction while still clearly communicating the message: this isn’t empty space—it’s a shared responsibility. We wanted to show not only the scale of the problem, but also the possibility of action through technology, awareness, and care.