Advanced Archive Technology

As a longstanding partner of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts, we had already worked with them on several projects, including their main website. When they were looking to create a digital home for their archive collection, our collaboration was only natural. 

Our UX team was tasked with a goal, to design an experience where users could browse their collection of over forty-thousand with ease. The solution encompassed three browsing patterns: Explore, Discover and Search. 

Explore stands as an editorial experience, allowing the Baltic team to promote pieces and tell the story of collections. Here, casual users can browse the latest and the best that Baltic has to offer.

The Discover area uses suggested search, filtering technology and UI design to create a space where Baltic’s audience can uncover hidden gems, and reveal items of their collection they may not have heard of. Discover does what it says, it provides a home for discovery. 

The Search area is a true innovation - Advanced Search Technology empowers history and art lovers to dive deeper into Baltic’s collections. Extensive research went into creating a tool where academics and hobbyists can truly tailor their experience. Users can refine their search by multiple criteria, exploring cross-media collections and uncovering connections between pieces that may have been lost in a traditional archive. 

Overarching this technology was an aim to make art accessible, removing the barriers and intimidation, and allowing users from across Baltic’s community to explore their collection. All underpinned by beautiful design and a scalable platform. The platform was a success, with Baltic Archive seeing a 3.2x increase in users in the first 6 months.