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Robben Island Museum
Unearthing Hidden Histories

Robben Island Museum
Unearthing Hidden Histories

Robben Island Museum
Unearthing Hidden Histories

In 2013, amidst a rapidly growing digital age, Robben Island, an iconic symbol of South Africa's past, beckoned for a digital rebirth. As the co-founder of Jungle Corner, a Cape Town-based digital agency, I was granted the profound task of navigating Robben Island Museum into the exciting digital landscape with a fresh, interactive website and self-guided tour app.

In 2013, amidst a rapidly growing digital age, Robben Island, an iconic symbol of South Africa's past, beckoned for a digital rebirth. As the co-founder of Jungle Corner, a Cape Town-based digital agency, I was granted the profound task of navigating Robben Island Museum into the exciting digital landscape with a fresh, interactive website and self-guided tour app.

The Challenge

Robben Island's tales were multi-faceted and intricate, extending beyond the shadows of Nelson Mandela's cell. We were entrusted with the mandate: illustrate that the island was not just a relic of the past but a vibrant, cultural tourist attraction with stories that spanned centuries. Our task was to unearth these stories, transcending the common narratives and showcasing the profound layers that defined the island's history.

The Team & My Role

The Team & My Role

The Team & My Role

Jungle Corner, where I wore multiple hats as Creative Director, Key Account Manager, and Project Lead, became the chosen vessel to carry forth this mission. It was an endeavor that required more than just skill—it required heart, dedication, and the integration of multiple talents.

With Kirsten Felbert, our talented Art Director, and a dedicated team of illustrators, writers, designers, developers, as well as film and photography professionals, we embarked on this journey.

My key responsibilities encompassed:

Creative Directing

Ensuring the design and interactive elements echoed the rich history of the island.

Creative Directing

Ensuring the design and interactive elements echoed the rich history of the island.

Account & Project Management

Spearheading business development, contract negotiations, project scoping, and aligning our team's objectives with the museum's vision.

Account & Project Management

Spearheading business development, contract negotiations, project scoping, and aligning our team's objectives with the museum's vision.

Cross-functional Leadership

Collaborating intimately with teams spanning design, development, and multimedia to breathe life into the project.

Cross-functional Leadership

Collaborating intimately with teams spanning design, development, and multimedia to breathe life into the project.

Laying the Foundation:
Brand UI & Guidelines

Before diving into design and development, we anchored our approach with a solid Brand Guidelines guide. Crafted to harmonize the visual identities of both Robben Island Museum (RIM) and our partner MTN, this guide mapped out the blueprint for our design decisions. From typography choices, photography treatments, to specific guidelines around the RIM logo, its colours, attributes, and even its sub-branding, we ensured consistency and relevance at every turn.

Interviewing Ex-Political Prisoners:

We started by interviewing ex-political prisoners who had lived on Robben Island during the apartheid era. They shared their unwritten stories and experiences. We captured these interviews and built an archive to showcase on the website, allowing visitors from around the world to learn about the prison periods and how ex-political prisoners, against all odds, overcame their hardships.

Archival Research

Next, we visited the Mayibuye Archive at the University of Western Cape to access archival material which had previously never been marketed to the general public. The rich collection of documents, photographs, and artifacts revealed many untold stories of the island. We commissioned writers to review and distill the information into a historical timeline, dating back to the earliest days of the island's discovery, along with the multi-faceted layers that make up its rich past.

Interactive Timeline Creation

We transformed the historical timeline into an interactive feature on the website, providing a visually engaging way for visitors to explore the history of the island. Users could click on different points in the timeline to learn more about specific events, see related images, and watch video interviews with ex-political prisoners.

Highlighting Robben Island as a Tourist Attraction and Conservation and Heritage Site

By showcasing Robben Island as both a conservation/heritage site and a must-visit tourist attraction, the website played a pivotal role in attracting a wider audience and increasing visitor numbers. It helped highlight the island's multifaceted identity, appealing to history enthusiasts, nature lovers, and travelers alike. As a result, Robben Island Museum succeeded in preserving and promoting the island's rich history, natural environment, and cultural significance to a global audience.

The Result

The new interactive website and self-guided tour application brought the rich history and stories of Robben Island to a global audience. It provided an educational and engaging experience that showcased the many layers of the island's past, including the previously untold stories of ex-political prisoners. The interactive timeline allowed visitors to learn, share, and connect with the island's past, contributing to the museum's mission of preserving and sharing the history of Robben Island for generations to come.

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© Neil Whitehead 2024

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