Stone Mounds

Stone Mounds aims to build a meaningful bridge between the past and the present, involving users not just as visitors but as time travelers through these significant heritage sites.

Stone Mounds' core focus is to build a meaningful bridge between the past and the present, involving users not just as visitors but as time travelers through these significant heritage sites.

Screenshots of the app

Expert Authority: "Stone Mounds" offers unmatched accuracy and depth through the first-hand narration and detailed insights of the archaeologists who conducted the excavations.

Educational: The app makes history accessible and engaging for everyone by providing comprehensive, carefully researched information about Neolithic sites.

Immersive: Through the power of storytelling, the app brings historical narratives to life and sparks users' imagination.

Innovative: "Stone Mounds" creates an enriched user experience by merging traditional knowledge with modern audio-guide technology.

Authentic: Content is carefully prepared by experts, preserving the accuracy and integrity of the historical data presented.

User-Friendly: The app has an intuitive, easy-to-navigate structure for casual tourists and history enthusiasts alike.

What should the brand's voice be?

Informative yet accessible, complex historical information is presented in a way that a broad audience can easily understand.

Warm and inviting, the tone of voice takes a friendly approach that encourages users to explore and learn at their own pace.

Passionate, the app reflects a deep passion for history and archaeology, inspiring that same excitement in users.

Professional, the content maintains a level of professionalism appropriate for educational material while remaining engaging.

I ran a research process to deeply understand user needs and expectations for Stone Mounds, using both qualitative and quantitative methods:

• User Surveys: I ran short online and in-person surveys with 10 people to assess potential users' interest in Neolithic sites and their information needs while traveling. The results showed that users were mostly frustrated by a lack of "access to accurate historical information" and "expert guidance."
• Interviews: To better understand the target audience, I conducted 4 one-on-one interviews with history enthusiasts, academics, and tour guides. These interviews revealed that users wanted to learn the historical background of the places they visited, but that the information needed to be presented in a clear and accessible way.
• Contextual Observation: I observed users' behavior at archaeological sites and noticed that the lack of guiding services and language barriers for foreign tourists were major obstacles.

Based on these findings, I created 5 different personas;

The key needs and opportunities that emerged from the research process were:

• Need for Detailed, Historically Accurate Information: Users want to explore sites in depth and acquire archaeological knowledge in an authentic way.
• Expert Narration: Audio guides narrated by archaeologists stand out as a powerful tool for making users' discovery experience at these sites more meaningful.
• Offline Access: Heritage sites are mostly located in areas with limited internet access, making offline access essential.
• Inclusive, Understandable Language: Presenting academic details in language that everyone can easily understand has a positive effect on the user experience.

I designed the user flow to make visitors' experience at archaeological sites seamless and to help them reach information easily:

• Main Flow: The app greets the user on the landing screen. Major heritage sites like Göbekli Tepe are featured here. Users can tap on one of these sites to reach details, listen to expert narration, and find their way via the map.
• Information Architecture: The app consists of core sections such as the home screen, site selection, audio guide, and offline maps. This structure lets users reach the information they're interested in as quickly as possible.

Because of how I was raised and trained, I can't think without a pen and paper in hand, so I carried out this process by sketching and writing things out.

• Wireframes: I tested Stone Mounds' core functions using low-fidelity wireframes prepared based on user feedback. In this process, I created a simple interface so users could easily access the audio guides and map features.

Wireframes

Walking through the wireframes

• User Testing: I tested the first wireframe prototype with history-enthusiast users and made adjustments based on the feedback received. For example, the play button for audio narration was made more prominent, and the points-of-interest markers on the map screen were optimized.

UI Design

• Color Palette & Style: Since the app's color palette and style had already been decided before I joined, we aligned on whether it matched the intended feeling.
• Components: Audio-guide play buttons were placed within a card layout that highlights the historical significance of each site. Users can easily start, pause, or favorite the narrations.

I evaluated how well the design met user needs by giving participants specific tasks during testing:

• Testing Process: In tests with 8 users, I evaluated access to audio-guide narration and use of the map.
• Feedback & Improvements: I found that users wanted to be able to listen to the audio narrations offline. Based on this feedback, I added the ability to favorite sites and listen offline.

Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stonemounds.app/

Website: https://stonemounds.app/tr/

Download the App: https://stonemounds.app/tr/get-the-app

Figma File: https://www.figma.com/design/iyqrWhdMqyKALk7hvWt8VI/Stone-Mounds-UI-Design?node-id=150-2439&t=ncUfbJnBAfIdAUaW-1

Thanks to Stone Mounds' user-centered design, we helped users access historical information and enrich their experience at heritage sites. Results from user testing showed that the audio guide was effective at delivering authentic information, and that users saw this feature as a strong motivation to keep using the app.