TreeQuests

The Forestry Commission

TreeQuests

The Forestry Commission

TreeQuests

The Forestry Commission

Summary

  • Youth oriented mobile game for a heritage site
  • Bluetooth beacons for location services
  • Atrium CCS deployment

The Forestry Commission's National Arboretum at Westonbirt tendered for a mobile game that would engage, educate, and encourage, teenagers - their hardest to reach visitors!

Challenge

  • Engage a hard-to-reach audience
  • Enhance visitors' experience of the Arboretum, not distract from it
  • Supply location services and navigation without using GPS or internet connectivity
  • Allow for regular content updates without Airsource involvement

User Experience

Outline sketch of selection screen Outline sketch of awards screen Outline sketch of tree data screen Outline sketch of map screen

Wanting to fully address the requirements of the brief, we decided to design two game types within a single app:
TrailQuest. A single-player treasure hunt game with smart path creation and an engaging variety of clues and challenges
TeamQuest. A multi-player only game - designed specifically for the youth groups who frequently visit Westonbirt - in which teams must capture trees to build-up their own digital Arboretum.


Illustrations

Common Oak and Coast Redwood icons Douglas Fir and Tingiringi Gum icons Scots Pine and Ermans Birch

Custom iconography and illustration encompassed not just the wide variety of trees at Westonbirt but also a full selection of awards badges to add interest for repeat users. Airsource did it all - from start to finish.


Spring award badge Autumn award badge Gastronomy award badge

Design

Working closely with Forestry Commission interpretation, youth engagement and design staff, Airsource built TreeQuests to reference Westonbirt's existing youth branding.


TreeQuests map image TreeQuests clue image TreeQuests award list

Result

TrailQuest and TeamQuest use Bluetooth Low Energy beacons, mounted on the trees of the arboretum, to trigger challenges and 'capturing' of trees.

TreeQuests is backed by our Collection Curation System, 
Atrium, that enables Forestry Commission staff to make changes to the app's content via an online portal, and see these changes reflected in the app within minutes. No need to plan an app update release months ahead!


""Very good way to explore Westonbirt, and it keeps you entertained as you explore the place. A good concept and well thought out. Recommended.""

TreeQuests splash screen
TreeQuests Application Icon