One page, five zones
Beringia’s homepage associates its sections with five ocean-depth zones: epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssal and hadal. Moving through the page changes the visual environment around the content.
The Beringia design story includes captured states and a user-controlled recording. These show the actual page rather than a proposed interface.
Content determines the transition
The implementation watches which tagged sections are in view. It selects a depth zone and applies the matching treatment to the surrounding interface. It also includes a margin between switching points so that the appearance does not repeatedly flip at a section boundary.
That is a useful separation: content determines where the reader is, while the visual treatment responds to that position. The scrolling itself remains the browser’s normal scrolling.
The choices behind the effect
Jack wanted the experience of going deeper into the ocean: exploration enabled by advanced technology and guided by experts. The sequence gives that intention a visible rhythm. Enjoyment was a reason too: “I also just thought it was cool.” That is part of the authored decision, without needing an invented performance claim.
A gradual visual journey still needs clear headings, readable text and an obvious next action. Movement and color should support those basics. They cannot replace them.
Check the experience in more than one state
A page-wide effect has to be considered on a phone, under reduced-motion preferences and without the enhancement running. The story should explain the boundaries and the checks performed without turning an intended experience into a claim about measured visitor behavior.