Graphic with grey background and black filled circle and white text "arc"

Interactive Prototype

ARC Visitor Center

2016

my role: UX, concept development, information visualization

Summary

This project took place in 2016, while I was studying Digital Concept Development at KEA, and had Amager Resource Center (ARC) as a client. The solution was created for the ARC visitors center.

Graphic stating "the challenge provide visitors with an educational and memorable experience"

Problem

ARC desired for the visitors center, in the new powerplant an engaging, education and memorable experience.

Solution

The solution was the prototype of an interactive touch touch-based table which encompassed all the elements required to make a visit at the ARC visitor center interactive, engaging, educational and memorable.

A round table shape was used in order to facilitate and enable team work. Scalablility for accessibility, adaptability for different group sizes and flexibility, which allows quick creation of a myriad of different experiences, enable gamification and foster exploration. These were the key selling points.

Background

ARC is a waste disposal plant owned by 5 Copenhagen Municipalities. The primary operations revolve around waste management including collecting, sorting and recycling. ARC is unique in that it turns the waste it receives into energy, which is distributed back to Copenhagen.

Simultaneously ARC runs a Visitor Center that provides educational experiences for a variety of target groups and it is focused on the environmental aspects of waste. At the time at which the project took place, the visitor center was planned to be moved into the current Amager Bakke/Copenslope plant designed by Architect Bjarke Ingels and used the collaboration with KEA to spring new ideas early on.

To fully appreciate and understand the problem, the team of six - me along with five other colleagues from KEA - went two times to visit the power plant. ARC offers educations tours in which students get information about the operations that take place inside the power plant and other topics related to waste, recycling and water management. We took part in one tour and observed.

Insights

the communication was primarily one way; despite ARC presenters best efforts to engage the young audience, only a few of the students actively participated in the Q & A session
the chemistry experiment and the sharing of results seemed chaotic while the amount of lab instruments were insufficient and not everyone got their chance to work

the students were seated around the classroom tables and their attention was easily diverted during the initial instruction video as well as in the following chemistry experiment and during the guided tour counclusions
there was little team activity and some of the activities seem to be disconnected from the tour of the plant

Process

All the ideas gathered formed a sum up of key points for each visit and offered an overview when looking for patterns, themes and commonality between attractions.

From the Insights gathered and analyzed, it was concluded that interactivity is an essential component if an educational experience is to become memorable. With this in mind, the concept is focused on the visitor's perspective and their entire experience - including reflection upon their visit.

A user journey has been envisioned and mapped out, in order to define both the tangible and digital elements for the students. Trying to map out what activities or events could take place before and after the visit to the plant was essential for the overall journey.

GRaphic of user journey before and after experiemnce and touch points

Main touch points

the journey started in the school classroom, where the students and teachers receive introductory PDF’s and are able to register for the tour
in order for the students to better relate to waste management and their role in it, they are encouraged to bring with them one item at their own choice in order to learn about its characteristics

on return to school, they are encouraged to reflect by discussing their teamwork efforts and possibly revise areas where they could have performed better and about the new things they learned
post visit they will receive at school personalized 3D printed keepsakes (made of recycled plastic from the plant) which they designed whilst at the visitor center

Image collage with students executing prototype of the interactive table

Concept

The main focus is to create a more immersive experience at the new visitor centre. From the research carried out, it was concluded that this is the place where visitors spend the most time and where most of the improvements could be accomplished. User experiences, both for digital and analogue solutions, were investigated and carefully analysed, discussed, evaluated and held against both the client goal and user engagement possibilites.

Solution

Prototype

A prototype was created to test the idea thoroughly, get the look and feel, and visualise the possibilities of the concept.
The prototype consisted of having a projector mounted to the ceiling, projecting an animated presentation from above over a round table where test persons could gather around. The different games and information were displayed and presented to the client as an interactive presentation in which the client was able to participate and have a direct view upon the concept and functionality.