Image Credit : Copyright: Jewish Holocaust Centre Inc. (2013)
Project Overview
The Jewish Holocaust Centre believes that the finest memorial to all victims of racist policies are educational programs and initiatives which aim to combat anti-Semitism, racism and prejudice in the community and to foster understanding between people.
The JHC Storypod mobile application features the inspiring true life stories of Holocaust survivors who volunteer as museum guides at the Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC) in Melbourne, Australia.
The JHC StoryPod mobile application allows the user to explore the photographs, artifacts, testimony, and personal life stories of Holocaust survivors in a manner that engages, educates and inspires.
The mobile application is being used as a new component of the JHC's overall educational programs designed for schools.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Philology: Andrew Milton (Creative Director, Graphic Artist)
Philip Cookson (Project Manager, Research Director)
Ben Avery (Lead iOS Developer)
Ricol Wang (iOS Developer)
Jewish Holocaust Centre: Jayne Josem (Content Curator)
Zvi Civins (Education Consultant)
Project Brief
The Jewish Holocaust Centre was the fulfilment of a vision by Melbourne Holocaust survivors to create a memorial to the millions of Jews who were murdered between 1933 and 1945. From its humble beginnings in 1984, has grown to become an active and internationally-recognised institution dedicated to combating racism, hatred and prejudice by fostering tolerance and understanding. Over 400,000 secondary school students have attended educational programs run by the Jewish Holocaust Centre since it opened in 1984.
A highlight of a visit is the opportunity to interact with these Holocaust survivors.
Within the next few years there will be no Holocaust Survivors left alive to tell their stories. The JHC StoryPod concept was designed to ensure that their voices continue to be heard by future generations; and the JHC StoryPod mobile application was designed to make these stories more relevant and accessible to a younger audience.
The Holocaust Survivors featured in the JHC StoryPod application are local to Melbourne, and many still volunteer as guides and mentors at the Jewish Holocaust Centre Museum (www.jhc.org.au). We encourage you to visit the Museum at 13 - 15 Selwyn Streeet, Elsternwick, Victoria, 3185.
Project Need
The "StoryPod" framework that was developed for the project allows us to easily add new content/features, and to repurpose the core application architecture to apply to different "Story" content and contexts.
We have tried to go beyond the simple metaphor of linking to content resources, to allow the user to interact with the "objects" (for example turning the page, shuffling photographic images); and to add dimension to the content by reworking still photographs and audio commentary to create a "Ken Burns" style video effect.
Design Challenge
The key design challenge was to make the large amount of content accessible and relevant, both from a User Interface (usability/discoverability) perspective, and from the practical perspective of making it available on mobile devices without consuming significant network bandwidth or local resources.
From a User Interface perspective having to deliver a consistent experience across the Tablet (iPad) and Phone (iPhone) form factors; while retaining the same access/navigability to content posed a significant design challenge.
Sustainability
The preservation of History, Culture, and Personal Identity is as important as the sustainability of the physical and natural environment.
A core focus of the JHC StoryPod project was the preservation of the memories, images, testimony, personal stories, and societal lessons of the Holocaust as told by Holocaust survivors, in a manner that is relevant to the educational needs of current and future generations of Australians.
The JHC StoryPod mobile application was 100% designed and developed by Philology in Melbourne, Australia using locally trained and recruited designers and software developers, including recent university graduates and post-graduates.
Digital Experience - Mobile
This award celebrates innovation and creativity in design of a unique user experience in the combination of text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactive content for mobile. Consideration given to clarity of communication and the matching information style to audience.
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