The world of cultural heritage is evolving, and the new Beyond Virtual Museums workbook, created by TRANSMIXR partners from the Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision (NISV), is your guide to reimagining how we engage with it. This resource is designed to help you move past traditional virtual museum models and create compelling, interactive, and multi-sensory experiences using immersive technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).
What is the workbook about?
This workbook isn’t just a guide, it’s a hands-on tool for conceptualizing and developing new immersive experiences. It provides a five-part activity sequence that takes you from an initial idea to a polished, pitch-ready concept. The process helps you select a scenario, understand the “affordances” of different technologies, sketch out your ideas, and use a structured template to deepen your concept. By the end, you’ll have a clear vision of how to bring your ideas to life.
Who is this workbook for?
This workbook is for anyone who wants to explore the potential of immersive experiences in the cultural heritage sector. It’s particularly useful for:
- Cultural Heritage Professionals: Discover new ways to engage audiences, break traditional barriers, and preserve stories using immersive technologies.
- Students and Researchers: Expand your understanding of immersive technologies, inspire new projects, and reimagine existing engagement models.
- XR Sceptics: The workbook can even help you develop ideas that highlight the limitations of immersive technologies, allowing you to advocate for more equitable development.
- XR Professionals and UX Designers: Think creatively about crafting experiences for cultural heritage institutions, expand your portfolios, and push the boundaries of audience engagement.
What challenges and opportunities will you explore?
The workbook acknowledges that while immersive technologies offer exciting opportunities—like making inaccessible artifacts touchable, breaking down physical barriers, or engaging multiple senses—they also come with challenges. These challenges include complex production processes, high costs, and a need for high-quality digital assets. This workbook helps you navigate these issues by identifying meaningful application areas and creating ideas that are imaginative yet grounded in real-world potential.
Ready to see how XR can breathe new life into cultural heritage? Explore the “Beyond Virtual Museums” workbook and start your journey into the world of immersive storytelling.
Authors of the workbook: Gabrielle Aguilar van Gend, Training & Development Specialist Rasa Bočytė, Senior Advisor for Research Collaborations Alina Goldman, User Experience Designer & Researcher
