Reviving Mumbai’s Heritage for Public Awareness: Instructional Design, Research & Data Visualization
Project: Interaction Design | IDC, IIT Bombay (2015) Guided by Prof. Venkatesh Rajamanickam
About the Project
Mumbai is a city with over 590 heritage sites that capture its rich cultural history. These sites include world-renowned landmarks like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Elephanta Caves. Despite their significance, awareness about these sites is surprisingly low among locals. An interactive, educational platform was designed that not only highlights Mumbai’s architectural gems but also makes their exploration engaging and accessible to educate the masses.
My Contribution
-
Design Research
-
Data Visualization
-
Interaction Design
-
Instructional Design
-
UX Design
The Designer’s Challenge
Heritage sites represent the legacy of human civilization and are integral to cultural identity. Yet, several barriers prevent their appreciation:
-
Limited Information: The existing resources are often outdated or riddled with inaccuracies.
-
Cultural Biases: Historical associations with colonial or Mughal influences hinder unbiased appreciation of architectural styles.
-
Accessibility: The presentation of heritage information is either too academic or visually unappealing for the general public.
This project aimed to tackle these challenges by combining design, technology, and storytelling.
User Interviews
Users from diverse backgrounds, including students, writers, tourists, and artists were interviewed to explore three key areas:
-
What they know: Most participants understood the concept of heritage but couldn’t identify the number of sites in Mumbai or architectural styles.
-
What they need: Visual aids and concise content were preferred over lengthy historical narratives.
-
How they feel: Emotional connections were stronger when participants saw “before and after” images of heritage sites.
Target Audience
The platform primarily targets:
-
Youth and Students: Open-minded and curious, they can act as trendsetters in promoting heritage awareness.
-
Photographers and History Enthusiasts: They bring a natural inclination to explore and share unique content.
-
Locals and Tourists: Both groups can benefit from easy access to heritage information while navigating the city.
Research
Research involved compiling and correcting data from sources like the Urban Design Research Institute. Architectural styles from Gothic to Art Deco were studied to identify their distinguishing features. Additionally, I analyzed similar digital projects to draw inspiration for user-friendly features.
The architectural styles were categorized into 6 primary styles after compiling the list of all the heritage sites listed in Mumbai.
Key Design Goals
To address the needs of the audience, the platform was designed with the following objectives:
Simplified Visual Information
Make architectural styles and heritage details accessible through visuals and concise text.
Engagement
Use interactive elements like timelines, maps, and photo comparisons to maintain user interest.
Contribution
Allow users to add value by uploading photographs or providing additional information about sites.
Visual Exploration
-
Display generic architectural models to explain styles.
-
Highlight key features with annotations.
-
Use timelines to showcase the evolution of styles.
.png)
Interactive Tools
-
A “before and after” slider for comparing vintage and modern site images.
-
Integration with maps for easy navigation.
Use the verticle slider on the below image to comaper the old and new documentation of the heritage site:
User Contributions
-
Enable users to upload site photographs and share insights.
-
Curate submissions to maintain quality and accuracy.
Mobile and Desktop Integration
-
Notifications on mobile devices for nearby heritage sites.
-
Ability to plot and submit missing heritage sites (subject to admin verification).
-
Option to suggest corrections or modifications to listed information (subject to admin verification).
-
Seamless syncing across devices for a consistent experience.
Evaluation and Feedback
The platform’s effectiveness was tested through:
1. Pre-test and Post-test
Users were quizzed on heritage knowledge before and after using the platform. Improvements in their understanding validated the design.
2. Style Categorization
Participants successfully categorized architectural styles after interacting with the site.
3. Think-Aloud Test
Feedback from both general users and experts provided insights for further refinement.
10. Instructional design & Gamification for an Ed-tech platform to assist MBA aspirants & practitioners.
Designing decision architecture for a conversational bot along with UX Design for Courses and Forums for a platform assisting MBA aspirants, students and practitioners with the aid of gamification.
| © 2024 by Sitara Shah