Watching People Watching Birds
92min, 2026
FilmProduKtion Loekenfranke
Directed by Ulrike Franke & Michael Loeken
Documentary
This documentary offers a serious yet humorous look at those people who are passionately devoted to birdwatching. Through their eyes and ears, we discover the world of birds, which becomes a metaphor for the current state of the world. By showing the perspectives of several different birdwatchers, the filmmakers Ulrike Franken and Michael Loeken highlight contemporary issues of species extinction and the climate crisis. The film had its world premiere at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen.
For this project, we contributed the graphic design for the opening and end credits, as well as on-screen info graphics and animations. The filmmakers tell their timely story with a reserved, yet timeless approach. Ultimately the film converges in a sequence showing the takeoff of Voyager II, famously carrying a golden record that included, among other recordings, bird voices. We tried to match that narrative voice with a similarly unobtrusive choice of typography, taking inspiration from the use of Futura on the Voyager golden record.
“The sounds of earth”, Voyager golden record
For the title design and on-screen graphics, we decided to respond to the aspect ratios used within the film. The film is shot in cinema scope with interjecting archive footage in 4:3 fullscreen. The main title is placed on the full width of the screen, set over a slow motion shot of birds in the sky, whereas some on-screen graphics are placed within the aspect ratio of scanned 8mm footage.
main titles alternate version
Initially we had intended for the main title to reflect the implied change of perspective within the title of the film, Watching – People – Watching – Birds, but in the end went with a less playful, classic version.
“Extinction” Sequence
Another interesting task was the design of a short sequence that needed to show the alarmingly vast and rapid extinction of bird species throughout history. For this, we conceived of a simple animation mimicking end credits, with the specific species passing by and dissolving into nothingness.
Our Services And Applications
Visual research
Title Design
On Screen Graphics
Poster Design
Other work
92min, 2026
FilmProduKtion Loekenfranke
Directed by Ulrike Franke & Michael Loeken
Documentary
This documentary offers a serious yet humorous look at those people who are passionately devoted to birdwatching. Through their eyes and ears, we discover the world of birds, which becomes a metaphor for the current state of the world. By showing the perspectives of several different birdwatchers, the filmmakers Ulrike Franken and Michael Loeken highlight contemporary issues of species extinction and the climate crisis. The film had its world premiere at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen.
For this project, we contributed the graphic design for the opening and end credits, as well as on-screen info graphics and animations. The filmmakers tell their timely story with a reserved, yet timeless approach. Ultimately the film converges in a sequence showing the takeoff of Voyager II, famously carrying a golden record that included, among other recordings, bird voices. We tried to match that narrative voice with a similarly unobtrusive choice of typography, taking inspiration from the use of Futura on the Voyager golden record.
“The sounds of earth”, Voyager golden record
For the title design and on-screen graphics, we decided to respond to the aspect ratios used within the film. The film is shot in cinema scope with interjecting archive footage in 4:3 fullscreen. The main title is placed on the full width of the screen, set over a slow motion shot of birds in the sky, whereas some on-screen graphics are placed within the aspect ratio of scanned 8mm footage.
main titles alternate version
Initially we had intended for the main title to reflect the implied change of perspective within the title of the film, Watching – People – Watching – Birds, but in the end went with a less playful, classic version.
“EXTINCTIOn” SEQUENCE
Another interesting task was the design of a short sequence that needed to show the alarmingly vast and rapid extinction of bird species throughout history. For this, we conceived of a simple animation mimicking end credits, with the specific species passing by and dissolving into nothingness.
Our Services And Applications
Visual research
Title Design
On Screen Graphics
Poster Design
Other work