Digital Experience Principles
At Auckland War Memorial Museum, Tamaki Paenga Hira, the technology and digital approach is guided by principles that aim to create meaningful, inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking experiences.
Story-First Approach: Digital tools will support and enhance our narratives, prioritizing storytelling over technology and avoiding unnecessary features.
Connection and Engagement: We aim to create digital experiences that deepen emotional and physical connections, inspire participation, and spark lasting moments of discovery.
Timeless Adaptable Design: Digital experiences should prioritize lasting aesthetics and functionality over gimmicks, with solutions that are scalable, adaptable, updatable, and maintainable by the museum as technology, stories, and visitor expectations evolve.
Far-Reaching: Our digital solutions will expand the Museum's reach, connecting audiences and sharing stories beyond its physical space.
Integrated and Enhancing: Digital elements and creative technology should seamlessly blend into the gallery's design, enhancing the experience rather than feeling separate. Consistent digital engagement across Auckland Museum supports visitor familiarity, while allowing for adaptability when needed.
Accessible and Inclusive: Digital experiences will be designed to ensure all visitors, regardless of background, ability, or age, can engage with the Museum's stories. See Accessibility and Inclusive Design section of the Standards.
Sustainable: We choose digital technologies (hardware, software, or platforms) that minimize environmental impact, maximize resource efficiency, and leverage existing tools to avoid redundancy.
Measurable and Data-Informed: Measurable and Data-Informed: Digital experiences should be designed for measurability, with data collection and evaluation integrated from the start. Insights will guide improvements and assess impact, while also tracking errors and issues.
Secure By Design: All digital experiences will comply with NZ cybersecurity standards, ensuring physical safety, privacy, and data security. Code must use the latest libraries, updates, and security fixes before deployment.
Configurable: All digital experiences should have key properties and content loaded in such a way as to allow updating without significant rework by the museum.
Implementation Notes
These principles guide design decisions and technology selection.
Where trade-offs exist, T&D leads will advise on balancing Museum priorities with project constraints.
Accessibility, security, and sustainability should be considered from project inception.