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Howard-Revis

Roles
  • Lead Developer
Company/Client
  • Howard+Revis,
  • Bluecadet

Howard+Revis Design Services is a renowned exhibit and interpretive design firm dedicated to creating immersive and educational experiences in museums, cultural institutions, and public spaces. Founded by Aluska Howard and Curtis Revis, the firm combines a deep understanding of storytelling with innovative design solutions to captivate audiences and bring history, culture, and science to life.

The Challenge

The firm approached Bluecadet to create a digital web presence that demonstrated its diverse project portfolio, storytelling expertise, innovative use of technology, and commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

Elegance Through Simplicity

The simplicity of the landing view introduced visitors to the core elements of the visual design while the interaction design framed the content.

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A Simple Structure, A Rich Experience

The site's simple structure encouraged browsing and discovery without overwhelming visitors with the large amount of content it contained.

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A Diverse Portfolio

Howard+Revis has an extensive portfolio of projects spanning various subjects, including history, culture, science, and natural history. Their work includes designing exhibits for museums, visitor centers, historical sites, and educational institutions, demonstrating their versatility and expertise across different domains.

A Rich Body of Work

The portfolio view encouraged open-ended discovery and focused browsing equally. The grid of project thumbnails gave visitors the opportunity to browse based on their emotional reaction to the imagery. The filters below let them focus on the criteria that mattered most to them, whether it was venue, design strategy, budget, or something else.

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Case Study

Content strategy centered on presenting the full lifecycle of each project from concept to production. The CMS I developed gave Howard+Revis in-house designers an open canvas for creating an entirely unique story for each project.

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An Open Canvas for Content Managers

The horizontal canvas supported a content strategy that presented case studies and continuous narratives. It gave content managers full control over layout, text, and images.

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Filtering the View

The interaction design for the portfolio was simple, clear, and provided immediate feedback.

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Storytelling Expertise

The design of the site reflected Howard+Revis’s commitment to storytelling. Just as the firm works closely with clients to develop compelling narratives that form the foundation of their exhibits, the site presented case studies as biographies. These meticulously crafted stories immersed visitors in the complete lifecycle of each project, from research and discovery to launch.

Scalable Design

The CMS extended to the client list, with a visual design that could adapt to continuous updates with compromising its integrity.

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Focus on Accessibility and Inclusion

Howard+Revis is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible experiences for all visitors. The firm incorporates universal design principles and ensures that exhibits are accessible to individuals with disabilities, providing equitable opportunities for learning and engagement.
Even though the primary experience for visitors was mediated through Flash, the content itself was managed externally. This allowed for a secondary, text-based experience tailored to the needs of visitors accessing the site through alternate means.

A Scalable Client List

The concept of the horizontal timeline was a recurring motif throughout the site.

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Innovative Use of Technology

The firm embraces the latest technologies to enhance exhibit experiences. From interactive displays and multimedia installations to augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications, Howard+Revis leverages technology to create dynamic and engaging environments.
We developed a custom CMS that gave Howard+Revis content managers complete freedom to tailor the presentation of material to the particulars of each case study.