Hamilton’s Past, Present and Future in a Digital Museum
Project Snapshot
Client
: Hamilton Civic MuseumsIndustry
: Museums, Heritage & StorytellingServices
: Website Design · UX/UI · Digital Storytelling · Visual Identity · Content StrategyChallenge
: Transform Hamilton’s 175th anniversary into a digital museum experience that could organize diverse civic stories, community contributions and historical narratives in one accessible platform.Outcome
: A digital museum platform that brought Hamilton’s past, present and future together through virtual exhibitions, interactive timelines and community-led storytelling.
Overdrive was commissioned to create a website that would commemorate the 175-year anniversary of Hamilton’s incorporation. This project showcases Hamilton’s rich history through heritage-based digital exhibits and new content co-created with community groups and stakeholders. Emphasizing inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility, the website represents Hamilton’s past, present, and future.
We delivered an engaging platform featuring multimedia content, user-generated stories, and best practices in accessibility to reduce engagement barriers. By working closely with HCM staff and community partners, we ensured that project goals were met within a tight timeline, leveraging our creative, technical, and management expertise.
The live website at Hamilton Civic Museums focusses on presenting more inclusive histories and exploring the concept of a virtual Museum of Hamilton. It shares information about Hamilton’s brick and mortar museums, as well as digital exhibits. By empowering Hamilton communities to preserve and share their heritage, Hamilton 175 is a platform that not only celebrates the city’s history but also looks forward to its future.
We developed an interface that allowed for templated digital exhibits. Each exhibit had its own aesthetic, however they shared common building blocks and foundational styling. This allowed new exhibits to be added to the site over time.
Community Partners: The Brightside Project
Transforming the projects contributed by community partners into interactive digital exhibits was particularly gratifying. For the Brightside Project we created an interactive map that pinpointed landmarks in the once thriving neighbourhood that has since been absorbed by industry.
“There is no sign to mark the place, but we’ve arrived in Brightside.”
Web Exhibition
Since launch, we have added new virtual exhibits to the site including Monument Trees, an exhibit that explores the legacy of Hamilton’s venerable trees and how they relate to the man-made evolution of the city.
Special Thanks
Hamilton Civic Museums
"I'm stunned at how lovely it all looks! Thank you so much for all the skill and expertise your team has brought to this project. It's surpassing my dreams and expectations!" — Simon Orpana, The Brightside Neighbourhood
