Hispo
WEB DESIGN | VISUAL IDENTITY | PRINT
HISPO is an interactive mobile app concept for discovering local history through augmented reality.
Starting in a team of two, I led the concept development, user research and visual identity design.
As the project progressed and the team expanded, my focus was on web design and print materials.
*The project was made for Northern Ostrobothnia Museum, but it was never published due to lack of programmers in our team.
Background, problem and objective
Our journey started with thorough research, engaging closely with history-related institutions and conducting user-research surveys to delve into the dual challenges of information accessibility and city disadvantage.
Our findings honed in on a specific demographic: young adults losing interest in the history of their surroundings. We uncovered a pressing need to effectively engage individuals with the historical sites of Oulu, prompting us to seek innovative solutions.
Our mission was clear: develop an engaging and user-friendly digital solution, bridging the gap between historical interest and accessibility. In other words, a product that brings history to people and not vice-versa.
The first step was designing the visual identity, to determine the direction for product development.
In crafting the Hispo logo, we deliberately opted for a serif font with a weathered, aged appearance. Its worn texture subtly hints at the passage of time, aligning perfectly with our project's historical focus.
Contrastingly, our color palette is bold, modern, and playful. Designed to appeal to the younger generation, it evokes a sense of excitement and exploration, transforming the Hispo experience into an engaging journey.
Shortly into the product development stage, we concluded that for the amount of data and information that needed to be shared and stored, the mobile application would need to be an extension of the main product, but the key would be the website.
The website would host the database and allow users to create and customize their profile and interests, communicate, check existent attractions and maps, read and write stories, volunteer to create 3D models and share valuable feedback and suggestions.
Navigating the user flow
Users start by creating a profile on the website to tailor their experience and avoid notifications about places that aren't of interest. We offer options for private or public profiles to encourage community engagement. As users explore, the website adjusts to show nearby points of interest. We carefully curate content from local sources and museums to overcome language barriers for international users. Additionally, we promote museums and exhibitions to encourage deeper engagement with historical experiences.
The website serves as a central planning hub and offers seamless app syncing for offline use, avoiding the need for GPS functions and internet connection that cause battery loss while travelling. When arriving at their chosen location, the app would serve as a mirror into the past. The use of AR gives them the ability to point the camera at specific sights and see their history.
Considering a key pain point we discovered was user engagement, if GPS data is active, Hispo will send push notifications to the user to inform them of attractions in the nearby area and give them directions and fun facts to encourage a visit.
Promotional and brand materials
As the website and app development gained momentum, I took on the challenge of designing print materials to promote Hispo locally and at startup events like Slush Helsinki.
These materials showcased Hispo's innovation and potential for international expansion, attracting attention from investors and tech industry leaders.
Watch the video below for more information about the Hispo app and its capabilities.
The project was considered a success by both the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum and the program leaders at OAMK Oulu, however, due to lack of capacity for developing the back-end of the website and mobile app, it didn't make it to the market.
