Introduction
Nestled in the heart of Geneva, the Musée Ariana is a timeless sanctuary of ceramic, glass, and stained glass art. Its expansive collection of over 30,000 pieces provides a glimpse into the history and evolution of decorative ceramics from the 9th century to today. It aims to be more than just a repository of beautiful objects. At its core lies a mission to make ceramic art accessible, engaging, and inspiring to all.
The museum seeks to foster curiosity, spark dialogue, and forge connections between ceramics and those who behold them. It strives to continuously adapt and innovate, finding new ways to breathe life into its collection and share it with audiences nearby. The Musée Ariana endeavors to transcend physical and linguistic barriers, inviting visitors on a journey where art comes alive.
As an innovative digital platform that distributes museum content on interactive mobile apps, Livdeo collaborated with Musée Ariana. More than a mere technological tool, our GEED solution offered a bridge between the physical and digital realms of the museum.
By developing a custom mobile web app, the Musée Ariana could leap across barriers of space, language, and accessibility. GEED presented an opportunity to democratize art and fulfill Ariana’s inspiring mission.
The stage was set for a revolutionary partnership that would completely redefine how visitors could interact with the Muséee Ariana’s ceramics collection. Art was ready to break free from its frames and cases and come alive in new ways through the creative fusion of innovation and imagination.
II — Bringing the Collection to Life with GEED
A — Explanation of how the GEED Box was deployed onsite to host the digital content
The key to unlocking the Musée Ariana’s collection was the onsite deployment of the GEED Box. This innovative device acted as a portal, hosting all the digital content to bring the artwork to life. The GEED Box was seamlessly integrated into the museum’s IT infrastructure and WiFi network. Now, the collections were digitally accessible to gallery visitors, offering new means to reduce friction and barriers to engagement.
By housing the multimedia experiences on an onsite server, the GEED Box enabled visitors to enjoy a self-guided tour without downloading an app or using mobile data. The door to the collection was open — all visitors had to do was walk through with their own devices in hand.
B — Discussion of the multilingual web app and how it breaks down language barriers
The GEED Box powered a custom-designed web app that eliminated language as an obstacle to experiencing the museum. Available in ten languages, from English to Chinese, the app transformed the collection into a universal language of art.
Visitors could use simple and intuitive navigation to tour the museum in their preferred language. No longer were thousands of objects locked behind a French and English descriptive wall. A selection of ceramic pieces could tell stories, share history, and make cross-cultural connections.
By enabling multilingual accessibility, the Musée Ariana could provide an inclusive, welcoming space to appreciate ceramics, fostering engagement and learning for a global audience. GEED’s technology helped the museum fulfill its vision of connecting people to art across boundaries.
C — Description of how the web app provides layered, in-depth information about rooms, objects, etc.
But the app offered more than just translations — it provided layers of in-depth information structured around the galleries, objects, and themes. Visitors could dive as deep as they pleased to explore the pieces that captivated their curiosity.
Thematic tours, detailed artifact descriptions, high-resolution images, and multimedia — the GEED web app made the collection come alive through bite-sized nuggets of engagement. Users could access object-related content within each room, adding context and meaning to what they gazed upon.
The app allows visitors to participate in learning and discovery by organizing information into digestible segments tied to physical spaces and pieces. Visitors can thus curate their own journeys of exploration through the depths of the Musée Ariana’s treasures.
III — Empowering Visitors with an Interactive Experience
A — Details on how visitors can now access a wealth of engaging content via their own devices
The GEED web app empowered visitors by placing a wealth of engaging content in their hands. By bringing their smartphone or tablet to the museum, guests could tap into an interactive world of exploration through a “Visit at your own pace” tour.
It all began by connecting to the museum’s WiFi and launching the web app. Suddenly, screens transformed into windows, allowing agencies to satisfy curiosity on demand through articles, videos, animations, and more. Visitors were free to chart their own paths to discovery.
Personal devices became each visitor’s personalized connection point to engage with the artworks at their own pace and preference. Technology enabled self-driven interactivity, access, and inclusion.
In addition, visitors could use GEED’s AI image recognition to instantly scan five exhibit stickers, one sticker for each museum room. They thus jump directly into dedicated content about the room. With a quick smartphone scan, the app’s advanced computer vision algorithms identified the stickers and loaded related content in the blink of an eye.
B — Examples of the types of content available — videos, audio, images, etc.
The app granted access to a multimedia treasure trove. Videos brought ceramics to life through historical and artist interviews. Audios of curators revealed the secrets behind the pieces. High-definition models let visitors zoom in and explore every intricate detail. Vintage photos and archival images added context and perspective.
C — How the GEED Studio enables museum staff to create guided tours easily
Beyond enhancing the visitor experience, GEED Studio also empowered museum staff. The intuitive CMS made curators and educators effortlessly create guided tours, thematic playlists, and compelling narratives.
The GEED Studio dashboard allows new content to be uploaded and managed on the fly. Staff could craft immersive stories and make them accessible at the tap of a finger. By decentralizing curation, GEED enabled the museum to share fresh perspectives and tailor experiences to ever-changing interests.
Both visitors and museum staff were empowered to reimagine possibilities for engagement. Technology became the canvas for creativity and human connections to thrive.
IV — The Future of Museum Experiences
A — Reflections on how the project represents a new era of museum-visitor relationships
Implementing GEED at the Msuée Ariana signals an exciting new chapter in the evolving relationship between museums and their audiences. No longer passive observers, visitors are active participants empowered to craft their own journeys.
Technology is dissolving barriers and enabling engagement on demand through smartphones — our ubiquitous personal portals to information and entertainment. Museums must adapt to these changing expectations and reimagine the visitor experience for the digital age.
GEED provides a glimpse into the future museum, where the line between physical and digital blurs. Customizable, multi-sensory experiences will be the norm. The possibilities are boundless.
B — What lessons can other museums take from this case study
The Musée Ariana’s collaboration with GEED offers invaluable lessons to help guide other museums into the digital era:
- Leverage technology to erase friction and make collections digitally interactive
- Provide rich, multi-sensory content tailored to different learning styles
- Enable multilingual access to increase inclusivity and accessibility
- Empower visitors to craft their own journeys of exploration and discovery
- Give staff simple digital tools to create dynamic experiences and content
- Reimagine engagement to inspire curiosity, participation, and human connections
By following this blueprint, museums can evolve to stay compelling and relevant for future generations.
Key Takeaways
The GEED platform transformed the Musée Ariana into an inclusive, interactive space through technology:
- Onsite GEED Box provided frictionless access to digital content.
- Multilingual web app broke down linguistic and cultural barriers.
- Visitors are empowered to self-guide and dig deeper into collections.
- For any new temporary exhibitions or display case modifications, the staff controls the content and can act from one day to the next.
- Technology enabled barrier-free engagement and interactivity.
- Curiosity was piqued, leading to more meaningful interactions.
GEED reinvented the museum experience for the digital age, leading to skyrocketing engagement, accessibility, and inspiration.
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