Celebrating the past’s heritage by using modern design strategy.
The Digital Heritage & Humanities Collections (DHHC) department at the University of South Florida is a realm where the past meets cutting-edge technology and stands as a pioneering force in the geospatial informations field. The DHHC employs state-of-the-art Reality Capture, 3D, and spatial documentation techniques to immortalize heritage sites, landscapes, and artifacts from every corner of the globe.
Their mission is not only archival; they craft digital learning tools and library collections that foster heritage preservation research, education, and innovative tourism interpretation strategies.
At Mighty Fine, we had the honor to collaborate with DHHC in preserving our cultural legacies through multiple creative avenues — designing and developing their website, crafting signage for historical sites, and photography to elevate their brand, to name a few.
Project Scope:
Website Design
Design & Fabrication
Brand Photography
“Their ability to listen to ideas and incorporate them into design was impressive. Mighty Fine made the process easy, had good communication skills, and collaborated well .”
— Dr. Lori Collins, Director of USF DHHC
Web Design & Development
Creating a new digital presence for the web
In collaboration with the Digital Heritage & Humanities Collections (DHHC) at the University of South Florida Libraries, we addressed their pressing challenges with sophistication. Their struggle to match the quality of their research with an equally advanced online presence led us to create a website that could match their sophistication.
We organized their vast library of research projects and virtual tours, creating a user-friendly framework that allows for seamless future additions. Integrating interactive 3D models directly into project pages provided visitors with a fully immersive experience, allowing them to explore historical artifacts in a way that would normally be inaccessible.
Our partnership met and exceeded DHHC’s goals, bridging the gap between their pioneering research and the digital realm.
Web Design & Development
Preserving the Moseley Homestead
The DHHC reached out to us in order to help them develop a comprehensive digital presence for the Moseley Homestead, a historic 19th-century homestead that is the last of its kind in the highly developed and urbanized area of Brandon, Florida.
The challenge was to design a platform that was visually distinct enough to be recognized as its own brand, but still coherent with the existing branding of USF DHHC. We like to refer to them as “sister” sites.
We curated dedicated sections spotlighting the Moseley Family’s heritage and the architectural brilliance of their 19th-century homestead. Another focus was on crafting a style that felt in line with the homestead’s historical charm.
One of the notable features was the integration of interactive 3D artifacts and virtual tours directly into the website, providing visitors with an immersive experience.
By combining historical storytelling, architectural elegance, and cutting-edge technology, the resulting Moseley Homestead website offers a comprehensive and engaging platform for visitors to explore the site’s heritage, enhancing the accessibility and understanding of the Moseley legacy.
Photography
Jimmy Carter’s boyhood home, farm, school, and campaign headquarters
Our photographer played a pivotal role in amplifying outreach initiatives. Through the partnership between USF DHHC and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park, our photography services were instrumental in capturing the essence of their collaborative efforts.
Our team documented DHHC’s preservation efforts for President Jimmy Carter’s legacy. We documented their meticulous work with historical artifacts and photographed President Carter’s journey in Plains, Georgia, from his childhood home to his 1976 presidential campaign headquarters.
Design & Fabrication
Navigating History: Park Sign Solutions
We worked together with the Digital Heritage and Humanities Collections (DHHC) and the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation in order to transform Abercrombie Park into an immersive historical experience. Our custom designed and fabricated signs integrated 3D printed models from DHHC’s technology, serving a dual purpose: informing visitors and making history tactile.
Detailed maps on the signs simplified navigation, solving a wayfinding challenge the park faced. Additionally, QR codes linked visitors to an online library of models, enhancing the learning experience.
