Virtual Tours
May 2024
To create an engaging, informative, and interactive user experience that aligns with the ethos and practices of the Roman Catholic faith, for the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Norwich.
Competitor research and user interviews
Initial Research
I began the brief by researching current competitors and heuristic marking up the original site and user testing. Competitors such as Canterbury, Gloucester and Norwich were researched. The goal was to see how these competitors are engaging with users through their website and other methods. After looking at the competitors, it was obvious the whole site needed updating in comparison to these competitors.
Norwich Cathedral's website includes a virtual tour that allows users to explore the grounds at home in an interactive way. The signs in the building also allow the users to learn about what they’re looking at when they're visiting but because the Cathedral we're working on is grade 1 listed, signs on walls are unavailable for information.
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The Gloucester Cathedral also surfaced a new way of exploring the grounds with an app to carry around when you’re there that lets users discover history of the building and secret stories.
This in the cathedral would allow people to find information out without putting signs on the wall.
I carried out user testing on the original site to find an opportunity for letting users find information easier. I had open and closed card sorts in order to see where users think they could find certain information. The results highlighted that there was a big problem within the site regarding locating information.
After experimenting with Lidar and AR to create an immersive and engaging way of letting users explore the Cathedral, I looked at virtual tours using 360 imagery influenced by the Norwich Cathedral.
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This allows users to find information before they visit and also when they're there, replacing the need for signs or assistance. I experimented with 360 imagery on the rooftop to further promote the tower tours they have. This is an accessible way of viewing Norwich from the highest point.
Final outcomes
I’m pleased with the final outcomes for the brief. The objectives was to create an engaging, informative, and interactive user experience and I believe this solution answers that. These outcomes are an inclusive and accessible way of viewing Norwich from the highest point if you’re unable to make the climb up or if you can’t travel to the Cathedral.
I’ve developed new skills by exploring new technology such as AR, Lidar and 360-degree photography and have thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with these in order to create an engaging and unique user experience.
