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Zhejiang Museum AR App

Designed an AR tour experience for one of China's premier archaeological museums, delivered in time for its grand opening.

RoleLead Product Designer
Year2019
ClientZhejiang University
Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology — AR tour experience

The Brief

Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology is a 25,000 sqm cultural institution in China's Zhejiang region. My team was tasked with delivering an AR app to enrich the visitor experience for the grand opening — with one month to deliver. The app would interact with centuries-old artwork, animating it to life and explaining its features through AR overlays and annotation markers.

25,000 sqm — aerial view of the museum
Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology exterior
The exhibition space housing centuries-old artwork

The AR Experience

The app needed to feel effortless despite the technical complexity underneath. Onboarding introduced the AR feature through a video demo before requesting camera access — show value first, then ask for permission. Once inside, visitors point their phone at an artwork to trigger annotation markers, tap to expand details in a bottom sheet, and explore 360° views of related artefacts. I delivered the design direction in one week and a clickable prototype shortly after.

Early prototype — AR artwork animation and annotation markers
AR app prototype in use at the museum
Onboarding — demonstrate value, then request camera accessOnboarding — demonstrate value, then request camera access
Annotation markers, detail sheets, and 360° artefact viewsAnnotation markers, detail sheets, and 360° artefact views
The AR prototype interaction flowThe AR prototype interaction flow

Outcome

Design direction created in one week. Clickable prototype delivered to developers shortly after. The museum's grand opening happened in September 2019 with the AR app ready for its first visitors.

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