Sherd

Gamifying Italy's Archaeological Heritage Through Location-Based Learning

Sherd Interface

Transforming how people experience Italy's archaeological sites through location-based gaming and interactive storytelling, Sherd addresses the critical gap between tourist interest and actual learning at historical sites. As founder and lead designer, I conducted field research across three major archaeological sites and developed a complete mobile app that combines ancient history with game design, creating educational experiences that feel like adventures.

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Role Founder, UX/UI Designer, Developer
Goal User Interface
User Experience
Year 2018-2025
Sherd Application Interface

Understanding the real problem through field research

I conducted field research across three major Italian archaeological sites - Pompei, Ercolano, and Villa di Massenzio - surveying 145 visitors to uncover real pain points.

The research revealed a striking paradox: while 90% of visitors expressed strong interest in educational content, most struggled to understand key monuments. At Pompei, only 26% could identify the Basilica. At Ercolano, just 10% recognized the Casa dell'Alcova.

Visitors also faced navigation challenges, feeling lost despite spending 2-3 hours at each site. Existing solutions failed to provide the contextual, story-driven experience they craved, validating the opportunity to create an engaging platform that transforms passive sightseeing into active learning adventures.

Length of Visit

Panel Information

Archaeological Sites Knowledge Assessment

Pompei

Ercolano

Villa Massenzio

Most Common Visitor Challenges

Personas and user insights

I developed four distinct personas representing different archaeological site visitors, from digital-native students to international tourists and cultural enthusiasts. These personas revealed key insights about diverse user needs: some prioritize social and gamified experiences, others seek deeper cultural context, while many need better navigation and storytelling support.

This user diversity informed Sherd's flexible design approach, ensuring the app could adapt to different engagement preferences while maintaining archaeological accuracy and educational value.

Bianca

Bianca Avatar

Age: 19
Sex: Female
Job: Student
City: Naples

Economic situation:
Low profile

Hobbies: Attends a tennis class 3 times a week

Stefano

Stefano Avatar

Age: 26
Sex: Male
Job: Freelance
City: Rome

Economic situation:
Middle profile

Hobbies: Has recently started a photography course

Emma

Emma Avatar

Age: 20
Sex: Female
Job: Freelance
City: London

Economic situation:
Middle profile

Hobbies: She's a professional dancer for a year

Adam

Adam Avatar

Age: 32
Sex: Male
Job: Broker
City: Canberra

Economic situation:
High profile

Hobbies: Attends theater and opera. He is a fan of classical music

From research to interactive concept

Sherd gamifies archaeological visits through location-based missions that guide visitors to key points while uncovering historical stories. Users receive GPS-triggered missions, complete interactive challenges, and earn rewards that unlock deeper knowledge.

This creates an engagement loop where learning becomes adventure, transforming navigation challenges into an experience that feels more like exploration than a traditional museum visit.

Step 1: Receive a mission

1. Receive a mission

Open the app and get a notification for a new mission available in your area

Step 2: Follow the map

2. Follow the map

Accept the mission and use the interactive map to navigate to the marked location.

Step 3: Walk to the site

3. Walk to the site

Head towards the designated point, exploring the surroundings as you approach the destination

Step 4: Play the mission

4. Play the mission

Complete interactive challenges and mini-games to unlock historical insights

Step 5: Earn your badge

5. Earn your badge

Finish the mission and collect your badge as a reward for your achievement

Wireframing and information architecture

The wireframing process mapped core user flows from arrival through gamified engagement, focusing on essential screens: mission selection, GPS navigation, interactive challenges, and rewards. The information architecture prioritizes simplicity, with location-based missions presented as discoverable content and clear mission structure: context setting, location guidance, exploration, and knowledge rewards.

Low-fidelity wireframes balanced gaming elements with educational content, ensuring archaeological information remained central while game mechanics enhanced the learning experience. The resulting structure creates seamless flow where users naturally progress through historical discoveries.

Sherd Application Wireframes and Information Architecture

Brand identity and visual system

The Sherd brand identity stems from the archaeological term "sherd" - pottery fragments that help archaeologists piece together historical narratives, just as the app helps visitors discover and connect ancient stories. The logo features a stylized pottery shard with dynamic lines symbolizing archaeological discovery and digital innovation, while the coral-red primary color evokes terracotta craftsmanship with modern energy.

Sherd Brand Color Palette
Sherd Brand Logo
Sherd Figma Design System

User interface design

The interface prioritizes intuitive navigation through a clean card-based layout where missions are organized by proximity and difficulty. The map seamlessly integrates GPS navigation with historical context, ensuring users stay oriented while exploring archaeological sites.

Interactive elements follow familiar mobile patterns while incorporating subtle archaeological aesthetics. Mission cards feature rich imagery and progress indicators, while discovery screens use visual storytelling to present historical information. Quiz interfaces balance educational content with engaging game mechanics.

Sherd User Interface Design Mockups
Sherd User Interface Design Mockups 2

Interactive prototype and user testing

The prototype includes a fully functional Progressive Web App (PWA) available for download directly from the website. Users can experience Sherd's complete functionality using real GPS navigation and location-based features, making it a genuinely working archaeological guide rather than just a concept demonstration.

Through the "Brave the unknown" button, users can explore missions and mini-games without being physically present at archaeological sites. This testing approach gathered valuable feedback on interface clarity and engagement levels.

The PWA implementation ensures cross-platform compatibility and offline functionality, essential for sites with limited connectivity. Users confirmed the app successfully communicated historical context, validating the gamified learning approach.

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Results and recognition

In April 2019, Sandu Publishing featured Sherd in "100 Graphic Design Solutions: Interactive Design for Screen," recognizing its innovative approach to interactive design and cultural tourism. This publication validated the design methodology of combining archaeological accuracy with gaming mechanics, positioning Sherd among pioneering projects in digital cultural experiences.

Sherd featured in 100 Graphic Design Solutions book

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