What Is A Timeline? #
An interactive timeline project is a way of organizing information, stories, or events in a chronological sequence. Timelines can be built with digital tools that allow you to combine text, images, audio, video, and even interactive elements. They can be linear (a single stream of events) or branching (multiple threads unfolding in parallel).
Why Choose This Format? #
Timelines are especially effective when you want to show cause and effect, demonstrate growth or change, or help an audience see connections across time. They’re also useful for transforming research into a clear, visual, and interactive form that’s easy to share and navigate.
What You Might Learn #
- Chronological storytelling: Practice telling a story or explaining a concept by focusing on how it develops over time.
- Historical/contextual thinking: Learn to connect individual events to larger patterns or themes.
- Information design: Explore how to present data, visuals, and narrative elements in a way that’s easy to follow.
General Process #
- Choose your focus → Decide what story, sequence, or topic you want to visualize through time.
- Gather content → Collect dates, images, videos, quotes, or data points. Think about what will make the timeline engaging as well as informative.
- Organize events → Place them in order, noting how they connect to each other. Consider grouping events into categories or themes.
- Select a tool → Pick a platform that matches your goals (simple vs. interactive, linear vs. branching).
- Design & build → Add media, write concise text, and format for clarity.
- Revise & share → Test navigation and readability. Refine based on feedback to ensure it communicates effectively.
Accessibility Considerations #
- Provide alt text and transcripts for all images, audio, and video.
- Use clear labels and avoid overloading the timeline with too much information at once.
- Ensure that colors and contrasts are accessible.
- Provide a text-only version or summary for screen reader compatibility.
Resources #
Get Support #
Book an appointment with a consultant at the DKC. We would love to help you with your timeline project!
Guides #
Here are some guides that could help you on your journey:
- Getting started with mapping/timeline tools
- Free media resources guide
- Getting Started with Choosing a Digital Project
Software #
See our Getting Started with Mapping/Timeline Projects guide for a list of beginner software options.
Examples #
Student Examples #
- WWII Events Internationally, Nationally, and Locally to Fredericksburg
- The History of the Digital Knowledge Center
Created by Shannon Hauser 09/17/25