The Engine Shed

Designing a digital service to match an exciting learning and creative space.

The Challenge

Historic Environment Scotland was formed in April 2015 to raise the profile of Scotland's astonishing historic environment. The Engine Shed will be a world-leading education centre for the conservation of buildings. It will safeguard skills, knowledge and experience so that organisations, building owners and the public can maintain, improve and – above all else – enjoy Scotland's historic buildings.

Once complete in 2017, the Engine Shed will be a destination in Stirling — open to everyone. But to achieve its full potential, the Engine Shed must reach people wherever they are.

We were challenged to design a digital service that would complement the Engine Shed's physical location, reaching a wider audience and helping the centre achieve its overall objectives.

The objectives

Raise awareness

Demonstrate the value of Scotland's built environment and inspire people to care more about the historic buildings that surround them.
Increase engagement

Encourage members of the public to play an active role in using, improving and preserving Scotland's historic buildings.
Provide support

Make it easier for building owners, managers and tradespeople to improve and maintain historic buildings.

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Services provided during this project

Digital strategy and consultancy

Our consultants reviewed the Engine Shed team's existing work and research conducted for the project.

Working with closely with their team, we scoped requirements for all aspects of the digital service, then proposed technologies and strategies to meet those requirements.

The Process

Define audience

A half-day workshop with the Engine Shed team laid out the project’s objectives and audience groups. Audience clustering focused the value proposition for each group.

Requirements

As part of the initial briefing process, the Engine Shed team provided a list of key project requirements. These had six key areas:

Engine Shed website
Publications database
Events database
Virtual learning environment (VLE)
Customer relationship management
Sales system

A detailed review of the requirements in each area directed our proposed solution.

Solution

Drawing on our findings from the audience objectives and requirements review, we were able to recommend specific technologies for the project - and how to implement them.

This work concluded with a four-stage plan to begin implementing these recommendations, along with an indicative budget and timescales.