Discover LamasaTech’s top 5 tips for designing interactive experiences that are truly compelling.
Interactive experiences are physical experiences connecting people in a space to ideas and brands. Many businesses are discovering the power of the interactive experience to improve brand awareness and loyalty, while public institutions such as museums and galleries use interactive exhibits and experiential technology to increasing effect. Let’s take a look at five top tips for designing interactive experiences for your organisation.
Consider the physical space in which users move
Consider the size and surroundings of the space in which the experience will be located. Is it in a museum or other indoor space where lighting, sound and other factors can be controlled, or is it an outdoor space at the mercy of the elements with changing light levels and outside noise? Then consider how people might move through space and look at alternatives, trying out all possibilities.
Consider the size and placement of user touch points
The size and positioning of user touch points is a crucial aspect of how user-friendly the experience is. Touchpoints allow users to control the show and should be simple to access, large enough to identify visually as controls and to easily physically touch. Testing will show the best size and positioning for specific installations and experiences as these can vary, but typically touch points for further interactions can be smaller than the initial touch points that may, for example, start and end a show. The alternative is to increase the size of these touch points and move them further away from the area, but this dispersal makes the experience less user-friendly and more complicated. Aim to keep things as simple and intuitive as possible.
Consider different levels of engagement
People want to engage with interactive experiences in different ways. Some people may be just passing through and/or want a shortened level of engagement while others will be seeking a more immersive experience and be willing to spend a longer time.
Many people fall into the first category, so designing interactive experiences with shorter interactions in mind – keeping the impact simple and immediate – is vital. Then you can also factor in the possibility that people will want to stay engaged with the experience and offer the opportunity for longer interactions to be rewarded.
It’s also about the quality of the interaction of course, together with the physical location and intended audience – for example your experience may be targeted towards increasing brand awareness and loyalty or it might be set in a museum with the aim of wanting to inspire and awe your audience with the wonders of science or the natural world.
With museum attendance falling, according to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), it is more important than ever for the public sector to provide new and exciting ways for audiences to find a reason to visit. Brands of course need to keep up with the times and find increasingly innovative ways to capture the imagination of their audience. Whatever the target audience and the location, keep in mind the key points of simplicity and immediacy. Your audience wants to feel instant effects from any interaction otherwise they will lose interest.
Consider the budget when designing interactive experiences
Interactive experiences, like all other projects, are subject to budget constraints and depend upon funding from various sources to be implemented and maintained. Bearing in mind that projects typically overspend and unforeseen circumstances crop up more often than not, it’s always a good idea to factor in a contingency budget and to keep things as simple as possible.
Consider damage-proofing
This will to a certain extent depend on the site location and its security measures. Some level of security should always be in place to protect the installation, and this is typically easier within an indoor environment. If designing interactive experiences for an outdoor location all aspects of the experience will also need to be weather-proofed.
[divider style=’left’]
At LamasaTech we’re specialists in creating interactive experiences that audiences will be inspired by and remember. Contact a member of our expert team today to see how this technology could help your organisation.
