The Humboldt Forum is one of the most popular museums in Germany. With the Online Collections, we have jointly created a digital museum catalogue that provides access to over 6,500 objects from various museums and archives in multiple languages – for targeted research, inspiration, or planning a visit. Intuitive search options, versatile filters, and an appealing visual design invite exploration.
Within the project, we have created a vision of how the digital experience can be further expanded in the future. This outlook is represented here - not every feature can be found in the current live version.
Central platform for a variety of collections
The Collections Online brings together datasets from museums, archives, and repositories into a central digital museum catalog.
Through the harmonization of different data sources, a unified, interactive presentation of over 6,500 exhibits is created. Users can specifically search, compare, and place these in new contexts. The structured preparation of the datasets enables precise filtering options and an intuitive search.
Interactive detail pages for a deeper experience
Each object has an interactive and informative detail page. Users can view exhibits in 3D, explore interactive focal points, and access complementary audio or video content. Links to thematically similar objects allow for deeper insights and promote an intuitive, exploratory engagement – for a lively and immersive digital museum experience.
Various entries into the collection
The Online Collections offer diverse ways to engage with the object world of the Humboldt Forum. Thematic collections, targeted search functions, and curated recommendations invite individual explorations and facilitate direct access to exhibits. Users can explore objects across epochs, materials, and cultures, and place them into new contexts.
Accessibility as a benchmark in digital product design
Optimised navigation, screen reader compatibility and alternative image texts ensure that all users can experience the exhibits – regardless of individual limitations. Digital inclusion strengthens cultural participation and reaches a broad audience.
With our accessibility check, you will receive a thorough analysis and concrete recommendations to design digital products inclusively and in compliance with the law.
![Mobile view of an artistic animal figure, with three interactive focal points at different locations of the exhibit. Below are three buttons lined up next to each other with the text "Detail Info, Full Screen, and Image Info." Below that is the text: Sculpture - Processional Bull Nandi - Mount of the God Shiva. [Country], 19th century.](https://framerusercontent.com/images/Vd595nyoBpmQ1XmJJa4X1taFs.png?width=683&height=793)
Agile, user-centered, future-oriented: This is how the digital collection was created.
In the development of the online collections, we followed our Design and Consulting Standard DIaaS® (Design Innovation as a Service).
Through collaborative working methods, strategic thinking, and user-centred design, we were able to create a flexible, intuitive, and future-proof digital collection.
Quick Implementation through Agile Sprints
The iterative MVP development allowed us to respond flexibly to the tight timeline of the Humboldt Forum and to provide gradually optimized solutions.
User-Oriented Design
UX research, interviews and tests ensured that the digital collection is tailored to the needs of the users.
Focus on Added Value
The development focused on central pages and features that provide the greatest benefit for visitors and the museum.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Through close coordination with the content teams, the exhibits were precisely prepared digitally and contextualised for various target groups.
Long-Term Perspective
In addition to the implementation, a vision was developed to continuously expand the collections online as a vibrant digital archive.
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