Enhancing Accessibility to Historical Treasures through Modern Technology
The Tarbat Historic Trust is a charity that preserves and shares the history of the Tarbat Peninsula. It runs the Discovery Centre at Tarbat Old Parish Church, which is full of Pictish and Mediaeval artefacts. To make these treasures more accessible to a wider audience, the charity asked the Scottish Tech Army (STA) for help.
Starting the Digital Journey
The Trust wanted its website to be as beautiful and informative as its museum. It needed a makeover to include better visuals, more informative content, and simpler navigation.
Research and User Experience: Understanding Visitor Needs
To ensure that the new website would meet the needs of its users, STA’s user researchers, including Nicola Simpson and UX Researcher & Designer Valeriya Rozhkova, conducted extensive research into visitor profiles and website pain points. This research was instrumental in shaping the design and functionality of the website.
Their findings revealed that the majority of the Centre’s visitors were holidaymakers and academics, mostly aged 50 and above. However, the research also highlighted the potential to attract younger audiences, particularly those travelling the popular North Coast 500 route. These insights guided the team in designing a website that could cater to both existing visitors and new demographics.
Building the Foundation: Initial Website Development
The first phase of the project focused on the Tarbat Discovery Centre’s website, which had become outdated and difficult to navigate. The existing website did not reflect the vibrant activities and historical significance of the Centre, nor did it cater adequately to the needs of its visitors. This phase was crucial in laying a solid foundation for a digital platform that would attract and engage a broader audience.
STA volunteers, including Jennifer Allison (UX Designer) and Dougie Richardson, worked closely with the Trust to redesign the website, prioritising aesthetics, navigation, and content richness.
Jennifer described her role as follows:
“One of the main challenges during the initial design was defining the key priorities and convincing the client that these were more important than, for example, keeping all the historic content on the site to satisfy various trustees. Our main objectives were to:
Make it clear what the Tarbat Discovery Centre is and why people should visit.
Provide clear directions on how to get there.
Highlight what visitors can do at the Centre, particularly exhibitions and events.
Increase donations and memberships.
I built a medium-fidelity prototype on Figma, which the client reviewed for testing and approval. Through several iterations, we reached a solution that everyone could accept.”
Dougie played a key role in the technical build phase, implementing the design into WordPress, a shift from the previous platform Webflow, which offered the Trust greater control over its content.
Additionally, the volunteers provided training to the Trust, enabling them to independently update and manage the website moving forward.
This collaborative effort set the stage for the next series of enhancements.
Enhancing Accessibility and Usability
After the initial website development, the next phase focused on improving accessibility. Steven Partlow stepped in to review and enhance the site, ensuring it met modern accessibility standards. His efforts were focussed on making the website mobile-friendly and usable across different devices.
“Mairi was always very clear about what she needed from me,” said Steven. “Her communication was great, and she was a pleasure to work with.”
In addition, Jennifer Murray tested the website from the perspective of a blind person, providing invaluable feedback that helped the team address usability concerns for visually impaired users.
Technical Advancements: Equipment and Streaming Capabilities
Beyond the website, the Tarbat Historic Trust identified a need for technical equipment to facilitate lectures and events, both in-person and streamed online. This capability was seen as essential for expanding the Centre’s outreach and fundraising efforts. Scott Taggart provided equipment advice, playing a pivotal role in this phase of the project.
Collaboration and Teamwork: A Collective Effort
One of the most remarkable aspects of this project was the diversity of the volunteer team. Each person brought unique skills to the table, contributing to the project’s success. From technical experts to UX designers, the team exemplified the power of collaboration.
Impact and Outcomes: A New Digital Era for Tarbat Discovery Centre
The outcomes of the project have been transformative for the Tarbat Discovery Centre. By handling the website work themselves, the Trust saved around £3,000 a year, which is significant for a small museum. Museum Galleries Scotland encouraged this partnership with STA, and it paid off remarkably well.
Dr. Mairi MacPherson, the Centre Manager, praised the new website, saying, “The new website for the Tarbat Discovery Centre is outstanding. It helps visitors quickly understand the richness of our museum. The Scottish Tech Army did excellent work in creating a site that is informative, easy to navigate, and appealing.”
Looking Ahead
The new website does more than just look good; it broadens the Centre’s reach and engages a wider audience. Easier access to information and enriched content has made the website a valuable resource. This project is a shining example of what can be achieved when passionate volunteers come together to support a worthy cause.
As the Tarbat Historic Trust continues to preserve and promote the rich heritage of the Tarbat Peninsula, its new website stands as a bridge between the past and the present, inviting a global audience to explore its fascinating history.
About the Scottish Tech Army:
The Scottish Tech Army was founded in April 2020 by Edinburgh-based entrepreneurs, Alistair Forbes and Peter Jaco, to help charities and other organisations dealing with the massive impacts of Covid-19 on the economy and society. It is a volunteer-based not-for- profit community that provides impactful digital solutions to support a wide range of civil society organisations delivering social benefit. Its enduring mission is to mobilise the UK’s tech talent for good and to aggregate, amplify and augment the tech for good ecosystem in Scotland.
https://www.scottishtecharmy.org
About the Tarbat Historic Trust:
The Tarbat Discovery Centre is on the grounds of the ancient church of St. Colman, displaying works of art created in stone by the Picts more than 1,200 years ago. These treasures, discovered during a 1990s archaeological dig, include fragments of majestic cross-slabs carved skilfully with elaborate geometric patterns, interwoven with magnificent animals and people. The Centre displays Pict and Early Medieval tools, artefacts and moulds used in the 8th century to create religious masterpieces, such as chalices and reliquaries in gold, silver, enamel and glass. It is a museum, learning and activity centre that preserves and promotes the heritage of the Tarbat peninsula.
https://www.tarbat-discovery.co.uk/
Written by: Charlotte Canham
