MoMoLab has developed two interactive exhibits for Almere City Marketing (ACM): ‘City in the Spotlight’ and the ‘Flevo Timeline’. By choosing these interactive installations, the organization introduces a modern experience for its new Visitor Information Center (VVV). Visitor experience and flexible content management take center stage. This project serves as a prime example of how tourist boards can integrate digital experiences into physical locations.
The Challenge: Interactive Installations with Independent Content Management for the Tourist Office
Almere City Marketing wanted to dedicate explicit space to immersive experiences in its new building. The challenge for MoMoLab was to co-create installations that engage visitors while remaining completely manageable for the VVV staff.
This resulted in two exhibits that tell the story of the city while supporting the team in their daily operations.
City in the Spotlight: Interactive Scale Model for the Visitor Center
While Almere has plenty to see and do, visitors sometimes struggle to find the right spots. To highlight these locations and support staff at the tourist information desk, ‘City in the Spotlight’ was developed. This interactive exhibit allows visitors to explore the city independently.
How the installation works:
- Interface: Visitors browse points of interest (POIs) and hotspots via a Netflix-style interface on a pedestal control panel.
- Physical Lego Model: A large, repurposed Lego scale model of Almere hangs on the wall, illuminated by a physical spotlight. A large LED screen next to it displays city videos.
- Synced Spotlight: When a visitor selects a location, the spotlight automatically targets the exact spot on the Lego model. Simultaneously, the LED wall plays matching videos and media.
- Manual Control: Visitors can also control the spotlight manually to point out their favorite spots in Almere to each other.
Benefits for the Visitor Center:
The installation serves as a powerful storytelling tool for staff while giving visitors the freedom to discover Almere at their own pace.
Flevo Timeline: Presenting History in a Museum-Style Setup
Almere is a young city, meaning its history is not always visible on the surface. However, those who dive deeper discover rich heritage spanning the past century and beyond. The ‘Flevo Timeline’ makes this history highly accessible within the tourist office.
Features of the timeline:
- Multi-Display Setup: The history of Almere unfolds across a continuous timeline split over multiple screens.
- Interactive Touchpoints: Tapping a specific point on the timeline expands the information, allowing visitors to browse images and videos.
- Audio Puck: To ensure web and physical accessibility, written text is read aloud via an audio puck.
Benefits for the Visitor Center:
The installation makes local history visual and audible for a broad audience. Thanks to the audio puck, groups, seniors, and visually impaired visitors can engage with the content independently and simultaneously.
Agile Content Management via a Tailor-Made Custom CMS
A key requirement for Almere City Marketing was full ownership over their content. To enable this, MoMoLab developed a custom Content Management System (CMS) allowing the organization to keep both installations updated effortlessly.
What the organization can update independently:
- For City in the Spotlight: The team can add new videos, playlists, and locations. The CMS allows them to adjust the color, shape, and exact coordinates of the spotlight.
- For the Flevo Timeline: Staff can add new historical milestones including video, audio, and imagery. They can also customize the visual layout of the different eras on the timeline.
MoMo Assistant: Smart automation for maximum comfort
Thanks to the management software, both exhibits open and close completely automatically around opening hours. This not only makes the setup exceptionally energy-efficient but also relieves the store staff, as they do not have to worry about it. Does a schedule deviate for once? The exhibits can always easily be switched on or off manually outside of regular closing hours.
Modern Destination Marketing for Visitor Centers, Museums, and Tourist Boards
With this new interior design, Almere City Marketing demonstrates how the role of a physical tourist office is evolving. Combining physical elements with interactive displays and a flexible software system creates a future-proof setup. The project highlights how technology seamlessly conveys city branding and local identity to visitors.
Interactive Exhibits for Your Visitor Center, Tourist Board, or Museum?
Curious about how to deploy interactive exhibits for your visitor center, museum, or tourist information location? Get in touch with MoMoLab to explore the possibilities.
This project was realized in collaboration with:
Almere City Marketing, Visit Flevoland, Zorgeloos werken and Luxonos
