Project Summary:

We designed an AR experience where visitors could explore popular ski areas through interactive AR ski area labels, challenging their knowledge of the Colorado basin. This fun solution blended modern technology with traditional cartography to create a seamless, educational, and visually interesting experience.

Our goal was to create a digital experience that complemented the physical painting by:

• Enable visitors to access ski area names and challenge their knowledge of the terrain.

• Simplify interaction by using a familiar mobile-based platform via App Clip.

• Ensure the overlay harmonized with the museum’s design and existing displays.

Design & Development Process

Concept Development

We worked closely with the museum’s curators to understand their goals. They emphasized making the exhibit accessible to visitors of all ages while focusing on iconic Colorado ski destinations like Winter Park, Vail, Steamboat Springs.

AR Framework: App Clips

App Clip provided the perfect platform for our AR solution, allowing us to deliver lightweight, interactive experiences without requiring a large budget for development. This ensured:

Quick Access: Visitors could scan QR code placed near the map to load the AR experience instantly or use museum’s provided iPad to view it on a larger device.

3D Labeling: Key ski areas were marked with floating labels, displaying information when tapped. We used sleek, modern typography and clean icons to display key information.

Interactive Hotspots: Labels appeared as floating points of interest, each revealing the names of ski areas, and on tap a short description of the historic Arapahoe East ski area.

Image Recognition: We mapped the labels on top of the Hal Shelton’s terrain painting.

Testing: Testing with museum staff and beta visitors ensured an intuitive user experience. Feedback was instrumental in optimizing label placements, content clarity, and device performance.

Results

Increased Engagement: The AR labels attracted significant visitor attention, increasing interaction time by 40% compared to static museum displays.

Simplified Access: App Clip ensured a frictionless experience, with most visitors accessing the overlay in under 5 seconds.

Educational Impact: Visitors reported a deeper understanding of Colorado geography, spending an average of 10 minutes exploring the AR-enhanced map.

Key Takeaways

Content Density: Striking a balance between providing readability and maintaining simplicity was a key challenge. Iterative testing helped us refine the label content.

Lighting Conditions: The exhibit lighting initially impacted AR visibility. We adjusted label brightness and contrast to enhance usability.

Conclusion

This AR map overlay transformed a traditional exhibit into a dynamic, interactive experience. Visitors could explore ski areas with ease, gaining a richer appreciation for the Colorado’s favorite winter pass time. By using AR technology, we delivered an innovative solution that elevated both engagement and education within the museum space. Visitors enjoyed challenging each other to see how many ski resorts they could name before tapping on the skier icon to reveal the ski area names.

Technologies Used: Apple's App Clip, Photoshop, Illustrator, QR code Integration.