Museum of Military Life
Client Overview
Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life is a respected regional institution dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of local regiments and the individuals who served. Their collections include artefacts, archives and an extensive catalogue of military medals with deep personal significance to families and researchers.
However, their previous website was outdated, difficult to navigate and did not reflect the quality or depth of the museum’s offering. They required a modern digital presence that would both engage visitors and make their unique collections – particularly their medal records – more accessible to the public.
Objectives & Opportunities
The primary objective was to design and develop a modern, user-friendly website that better represented the museum and improved visitor engagement. A key opportunity lay in digitising access to their medal records, enabling users to search for family members and historical connections online.
The project also aimed to streamline internal processes by integrating existing data sources where possible, reducing manual effort.
Enhancing accessibility, improving site performance and creating a scalable platform for future content growth were also important considerations in delivering long-term value.
Discovery & Insights
During the discovery phase, we worked closely with the museum team to understand both user needs and internal workflows.
A critical focus was analysing their offline medal database system to determine how data could be extracted and structured for web use. We identified that their existing records, stored and maintained offline, could be exported via XLS files. This insight allowed us to design a solution that would bridge internal systems with the public-facing website, ensuring data accuracy while minimising disruption to their established processes.
Solution Strategy & Delivery
We created a fully bespoke website that modernised the museum’s digital presence and prioritised usability
A central feature was the development of a powerful, searchable medal database, allowing visitors to filter records by surname, rank, regiment and other key attributes. We implemented an XLS import system to seamlessly upload and update medal data from the museum’s internal database.
The site was built with scalability and ease of management in mind, enabling the team to maintain content efficiently while delivering a fast, accessible experience across all devices.
Results & Impact
The new website has significantly enhanced the museum’s ability to engage with a wider audience, both locally and globally. Visitors can now easily explore the medal database, creating meaningful connections with family history and military heritage.
The streamlined data import process has reduced administrative overhead for staff while ensuring records remain accurate and up to date.
Overall, the project has transformed the museum’s digital presence, positioning them as a more accessible and forward-thinking institution while supporting their mission to preserve and share important historical stories.