Explorer 2.0 Augmented Reality App

American Museum of Natural History

Designing a digital compass that unlocks the hidden magic of the museum.

Overview

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world, spanning four city blocks. For visitors, the sheer scale can be overwhelming. We created Explorer, a location-aware app that acts as a personal GPS for the sprawling complex. By deploying a network of Bluetooth beacons, we gave visitors a "blue dot" on their map, allowing them to navigate from the Big Bang to the Blue Whale with turn-by-turn precision.

The Details

Explorer is more than just a map; it's a curator in your pocket. Visitors can select their interests—from "Dinosaurs" to "Poisonous Creatures"—and the app generates a custom itinerary, optimizing the route to save time. We also layered Augmented Reality into the experience, allowing users to "x-ray" cases and see dioramas come to life. The result is a seamless blend of utility and wonder, ensuring that the only thing visitors get lost in is the history.