The Restricted Section is an immersive digital experience inspired by arcane lore and magical worlds, a website reimagined as a portal into the unknown.
Overview.
The brief was to create a space that felt more like a spellbook than a site, a richly detailed world filled with mystery, interactivity, and layered storytelling. From forbidden spells to mystical creatures, every page needed to pull users deeper into the narrative.
The Brief.
The project called for a fully themed experience that blended design and storytelling seamlessly. The site had to feel magical, but never gimmicky, combining dark, cinematic visuals, interactive elements like 'The Dark Vault,' and gamified features to encourage exploration and participation. It needed to engage users emotionally, technically, and visually, all while remaining intuitive to navigate.
The Challenge.
The biggest challenge was layering all that detail without overwhelming the user. Every animation, hover state, and transition had to serve the story while still keeping the experience smooth and accessible. We had to strike a careful balance between enchantment and usability, from designing spell-casting interactions to optimising complex visuals across devices. The result was a site that felt truly immersive, without sacrificing performance or polish.
Project Impact.
This was an internal agency challenge designed to shake off the creative cobwebs after the Christmas break. We each tackled the brief individually, and everything you see in this project was led by me. From the initial concept and art direction to the UI, UX, visual design, graphics, and subtle animation.
While others leaned directly into the Harry Potter universe, I took the brief a step further. I asked myself, what would wizards be using beyond Hogwarts? That question led to the idea of a magical version of the dark web. A hidden space full of lore, mystery, and danger, built for a wizarding world far bigger than any one franchise.
That concept became the backbone of the experience. The site combined rich visuals, layered interactions, and a UI that felt like an ancient archive merged with an underground portal. It stood out in the studio for its originality and detail, and became a great example of how worldbuilding, design, and interactivity can come together to create something memorable.
