Realistic — Geiger counter

Project type: Interactive | Tool used: Figma | Time: ~45 hours | Sound required: Yes

About: Inspired by the incredible sound design of the Geiger counter in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023), I set out to recreate a similar device in Figma, aiming to push both Figma’s boundaries and my own. Taking inspiration from Oppenheimer’s vintage aesthetics, I kept the design classic, crafting an analog version of the Ledlum Model 6 Geiger counter, with some unique tweaks.

Project Focus: So, for this project, I really wanted to hone in on two main aspects. First, there’s the level of detail — it’s intense! Every tiny element, from scratches on the board to the meter, metalwork, paint, and even the radiation sound, was crafted carefully in Figma. But what really makes this design stand out is the sound feature. Once you turn it on, it actually produces a realistic radiation detection sound, which I think adds a really cool, immersive layer to the whole experience.

Disclaimer: Designing this Geiger counter was no easy task! It took over 45 hours, spread across 5 days with 9-hour shifts. The intricate details make this interactive Geiger counter a bit laggy in prototype mode, so it’s best to view it on a device with decent specs. Note that the prototype may glitch when viewed on mobile.

Design File: Available upon request.