Research

Left: The Cousland Smiddy - Blacksmith's tools
Centre:"On the Crest of a Wave", 40 years of the Edinburgh Gang Show
Right: The Wheel of Destiny interactive game, John Knox House

Although involved in the interpretive process at every level - from early fact finding to finished product, a major part of my work involves researching and collating information for feasibility studies and projects in progress. I frequently access information from many of our major heritage organisations, libraries, museums and natural history archives and photographers.

Project Management and Budget Control… or Designing on a Budget!

Huntly Peregrine Wildwatch (Forestry Commission). Budget £6,000.

Huntly Peregrine Wild Watch is run by Forestry Commission Scotland and although essentially a bird-watching hide, the role of the centre is to educate and conserve. It offers visitors the opportunity to watch peregrines as they hatch and rear their young. The centre is located at Bin Quarry near Huntly and was named as one of Scotland's Top Visitor Attractions at the 2006 Scottish Thistle Awards.

Access for All, Testing and Evaluating

Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre (Scottish Natural Heritage)

Liasing with leading disability groups such as the Fieldfare Trust with regard to ‘Access for All”, is also part of my remit.

Taking time to test ideas is crucial for a project to succeed and understanding the needs of the visitor must be seen as essential at all levels. At Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre we worked closely with the Fieldfare Trust and invited various groups to come along to try out some of our design ideas on both the inside and outside trails.

Disability Discrimination Act

Beinn Eighe Visitor Centre (Scottish Natural Heritage)

Every museum, visitor centre and heritage site is now required to provide services for people with disabilities and this means producing a wide range of services from descriptive audio guides, tactile interpretive panels and models, touch stations, interactives and pre-visit information.