Immerse
Immerse
An interactive experience at the Science Gallery.
An interactive experience at the Science Gallery.
OVERVIEW
As part of CISSA’s Product-thon, my team and I developed a concept for an app designed to enhance visitor engagement at the Science Gallery of Melbourne.
By combining a mascot-driven interface with quiz-style interactions, Immerse encourages hands-on exploration and transforms a gallery visit into a playful, curiosity-filled adventure.
As part of CISSA’s Product-thon, my team and I developed a concept for an app designed to enhance visitor engagement at the Science Gallery of Melbourne.
By combining a mascot-driven interface with quiz-style interactions, Immerse encourages hands-on exploration and transforms a gallery visit into a playful, curiosity-filled adventure.
ROLE
Product-thon Participant
User Researcher
UX/UI Designer
Product-thon Participant
User Researcher
UX/UI Designer
DURATION
Sep 2024, 3 Days
Sep 2024, 3 Days
TEAM
Janine Namerian + 3 members
Janine Namerian + 3 members
🚩 The Problem
🚩 The Problem
Visitors often experience a lack of interactive engagement in the Science Gallery...
Visitors often experience a lack of interactive engagement in the Science Gallery...
...with both artworks and the physical space.
...with both artworks and the physical space.
Increases visitor engagement...
Increases visitor engagement...
with an interactive experience, blending the physical and digital realms.
with an interactive experience, blending the physical and digital realms.
Encourages exploration...
Encourages exploration...
of the space, creating a memorable and impactful experience for viewers.
of the space, creating a memorable and impactful experience for viewers.
Immersive learning...
Immersive learning...
for younger audiences, by incorporating dynamic, hands-on learning.
for younger audiences, by incorporating dynamic, hands-on learning.
🔎 Desk + Field Research
🔎 Desk + Field Research
To kick off our research, we dove into studies on museum apps and their impact on visitor engagement. With limited time, we dedicated our first day to research, exploring the Science Gallery, interviewing staff and visitors.
To kick off our research, we dove into studies on museum apps and their impact on visitor engagement. With limited time, we dedicated our first day to research, exploring the Science Gallery, interviewing staff and visitors.
🗣️
“I want to know more about the cool exhibits but also don’t really want to read through all the information”
“I want to know more about the cool exhibits but also don’t really want to read through all the information”
Visitor Interviewee B
Visitor Interviewee B
Engagement among teenagers increases by approximately 33% when using a gamification app in a museum.
This reinforced our decision to make engagement and interactivity the key goals of Immerse.
Engagement among teenagers increases by approximately 33% when using a gamification app in a museum.
This reinforced our decision to make engagement and interactivity the key goals of Immerse.
Brainstorming and site visits to conduct field research.
Brainstorming and site visits to conduct field research.
🔎 Current State Analysis
🔎 Current State Analysis
While ActionBound is already a gamified experience, it leans heavily on passive engagement. Visitors are primarily prompted to read through information rather than being encouraged to actively interact with the exhibits.
While ActionBound is already a gamified experience, it leans heavily on passive engagement. Visitors are primarily prompted to read through information rather than being encouraged to actively interact with the exhibits.
Current interface of museum app, ActionBound.
Current interface of museum app, ActionBound.
Hours of work have gone into conceptualising and creating these artworks, but people often tend to overlook this.
Younger audiences, in particular, seek more dynamic, competitive and hands-on interactions. We realised that the engagement needs to be more than just reading. It should be immersive and rewarding.
Hours of work have gone into conceptualising and creating these artworks, but people often tend to overlook this.
Younger audiences, in particular, seek more dynamic, competitive and hands-on interactions. We realised that the engagement needs to be more than just reading. It should be immersive and rewarding.
🖊️ How Might We?
🖊️ How Might We?
With our problem clearly defined, we crafted HMW questions to refine our direction, serving as a guiding framework and focusing our design decisions for the next two days.
With our problem clearly defined, we crafted HMW questions to refine our direction, serving as a guiding framework and focusing our design decisions for the next two days.
🔮
HMW?
create a hybrid physical and digital experience to increase interactivity at galleries
🔮
HMW?
create a hybrid physical and digital experience to increase interactivity at galleries
🧠
HMW?
encourage younger audience to connect and learn more about art installations
🧠
HMW?
encourage younger audience to connect and learn more about art installations
🖼️
HMW?
provide a structure and purpose to gallery visits
🖼️
HMW?
provide a structure and purpose to gallery visits
🖊️ User Persona
🖊️ User Persona
To better understand the pain points and needs of our primary users, we created a detailed persona. This helped us step into their shoes and identify key challenges.
To better understand the pain points and needs of our primary users, we created a detailed persona. This helped us step into their shoes and identify key challenges.
Azure Skye, user persona for Immerse.
Azure Skye, user persona for Immerse.
🖊️ User Flow
🖊️ User Flow
User flow for ideal user journey through Immerse.
User flow for ideal user journey through Immerse.
💡 Wireframes
💡 Wireframes
Immerse low-fidelity wireframes.
Immerse low-fidelity wireframes.
🖊️ Storyboard
🖊️ Storyboard
We then brought our persona to life through a storyboard, mapping out how she would engage with our app’s user flow in a real-world scenario.
We then brought our persona to life through a storyboard, mapping out how she would engage with our app’s user flow in a real-world scenario.
User journey storyboard of persona Azure Skye interacting with Immerse.
User journey storyboard of persona Azure Skye interacting with Immerse.
💡 The Brand
💡 The Brand
He is more than just a mascot, he is the identity of Immerse itself.
As an interactive guide, Arwin brings exhibits to life, encouraging visitors to engage and explore in a playful, hands-on way.
What makes Arwin truly special is his versatility. He can be themed to match each Science Gallery exhibition, seamlessly adapting to different experiences.
He is more than just a mascot, he is the identity of Immerse itself.
As an interactive guide, Arwin brings exhibits to life, encouraging visitors to engage and explore in a playful, hands-on way.
What makes Arwin truly special is his versatility. He can be themed to match each Science Gallery exhibition, seamlessly adapting to different experiences.
🎨 The Final Prototype
🎨 The Final Prototype
🎨 Accessibility
🎨 Accessibility
Accessibility was a key focus throughout our design process.
Our goal was to create an inclusive experience where all visitors, regardless of their ability, could engage with Immerse.
Accessibility was a key focus throughout our design process.
Our goal was to create an inclusive experience where all visitors, regardless of their ability, could engage with Immerse.
Accessibility guidelines followed while designing Immerse.
Accessibility guidelines followed while designing Immerse.
🤔 What’s Next?
🤔 What’s Next?
Our vision for Immerse goes far beyond this competition.
While the three-day time limit shaped our initial scope, we brainstormed exciting possibilities for future development.
Our vision for Immerse goes far beyond this competition.
While the three-day time limit shaped our initial scope, we brainstormed exciting possibilities for future development.
Boosting Competition
Expanding leaderboard features to enhance engagement and motivation.
Boosting Competition
Expanding leaderboard features to enhance engagement and motivation.
Educational Collaboration
Partnering with high schools to integrate curriculum-based learning into the quizzes.
Educational Collaboration
Partnering with high schools to integrate curriculum-based learning into the quizzes.
Deeper User Insights
Conducting in-depth user testing to refine the experience and better address visitor needs.
Deeper User Insights
Conducting in-depth user testing to refine the experience and better address visitor needs.
🏅Achievements
🏅Achievements
We were awarded 1st place for Immerse!
We were awarded 1st place for Immerse!
After our presentation, the Science Gallery themselves approached us with interest in bringing Immerse to life.
After our presentation, the Science Gallery themselves approached us with interest in bringing Immerse to life.