Digital Interpretation for National Heritage Organisations

Scalable, evidence‑led approaches to public engagement, interpretation, and storytelling that respect place, people, and conservation.

Neolithic burial chamber known as Arthur’s Stone in Herefordshire, a nationally significant prehistoric monument in a rural landscape

Arthur's Stone, Dorstone

Working with National Heritage Bodies

Large heritage organisations face a complex challenge: how to deepen public understanding and relevance across multiple sites, while safeguarding conservation principles, scholarly integrity, and institutional trust.

Our work supports national heritage bodies to explore digital and immersive interpretation in ways that are measured, responsible, and scalable. We prioritise interpretation and engagement outcomes first, using digital tools only where they genuinely add value.

You can also see how this approach has been applied in practice across community, academic, and public-sector contexts in our Immersive Heritage work.

Rather than one‑off pilots or technology‑led experiments, we focus on frameworks and approaches that can be reused, evaluated, and embedded across an estate.

Archaeologists and volunteers taking part in a supervised excavation at Arthur’s Stone monument

Excavation Taking Place on Arthur's Stone Monument

DIGITAL

HERITAGE

A Heritage First, Technology Second Approach

We begin with place, significance, and audience. Technology follows later, if at all.

Our projects are designed to:

Support interpretation, learning, and access goals.
Work across physical sites and digital contexts.
Reduce risk in experimentation.
Produce evidence that stands up to internal and external scrutiny.

This approach allows heritage teams to innovate with confidence, while avoiding the reputational and operational risks often associated with large‑scale digital projects.

Case Study: Beneath Hay Bluff – Community Heritage Film

An evidence-led model for interpretation at scale.

Landscape view of the Dorstone Hills surrounding Arthur’s Stone, photographed during the Beneath Hay Bluff community heritage project

Dorstone Landscape

Beneath Hay Bluff is a community heritage film created in collaboration with English Heritage and the University of Manchester.

The project explored how visitors experience and understand Arthur’s Stone, a nationally significant prehistoric monument, by capturing voices, reflections, and encounters on site.

Rather than imposing interpretation, the film documents lived engagement with place.

Participants Guided by English Heritage Volunteers

The film demonstrates an alternative model for interpretation: one that values listening, documentation, and reflection as much as explanation. It provides a durable interpretive asset that supports engagement, learning, and future research.

Student documenting their experience of Arthur’s Stone as part of a community heritage project

Documenting Visitor Experiences

This project is now used as evidence of best practice in community‑led heritage storytelling and forms part of a wider body of work exploring scalable, low‑risk approaches to digital interpretation.

Read the full case study →

Designing for Scale Across Sites

National heritage organisations require solutions that can work across dozens, sometimes hundreds, of locations.

Our work focuses on creating:

Repeatable interpretation models.
Clear governance and documentation.
Evaluation‑ready engagement methods.
Approaches that adapt to local character without fragmenting delivery.

By designing for scale from the outset, we help organisations avoid the common trap of isolated pilots that cannot be sustained or rolled out.

Aerial view of Arthur’s Stone showing the monument and surrounding agricultural landscape

Arthur's Stone from Above

What We Deliver

Interpretation & Engagement Frameworks

Strategic guidance for digital and hybrid interpretation across large estates, aligned with conservation and access priorities.

Pilot Projects Designed for Rollout

Carefully scoped pilots that test ideas safely, generate evidence, and inform wider adoption.

Community‑Led Storytelling

Methods for capturing and presenting public engagement that strengthen relevance and belonging.

Capability Building

Support and training that enables internal teams to make confident, informed decisions about digital interpretation.

These services are designed to support early exploration through to long-term adoption, working alongside internal teams and existing frameworks. Find out more about how our studio works.

Why Heritage Organisations Work With Us

Proven experience working within heritage, academic, and public‑sector contexts.
Interpretation‑led practice, not technology‑driven delivery.
Strong emphasis on evaluation and evidence.
Respect for conservation, access, and institutional reputation.
Approaches designed for longevity, not novelty

Students and volunteers working alongside experienced practitioners during a supervised archaeological excavation.

Let’s Talk

If you are exploring new approaches to interpretation, engagement, or digital storytelling across a national estate, we would be happy to discuss how our methods could support your goals.

Our work is suitable for early exploration, pilot projects, and long-term strategic partnerships.

Let's Talk

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