Designing Digital Engagements: Approaches to creative practice and adaptable programming for archaeological visualisation

The processes of archaeological visualisation exist at the intersection of art practice and archaeological interpretation, often involving complex negotiations between stakeholders and practitioners. This paper reflects upon the authors’ experiences developing interactive mixed media content for public outreach from two case study archaeological excavations: the SERF Hillforts Project in Strathearn, Scotland and the Nunalleq Archaeology Project in southwest Alaska. Each presented unique challenges in the integration of layered multivocal narratives in the context of ongoing archaeological excavations. This included evolving scientific interpretations, co-design with stakeholders and a cycle of feedback. Creative design and software development were a core part of the collaborative process that resulted in these interactive digital interfaces. Here we explore how collaborative creative practice influenced the design choices that were made and the programming paradigms that were used.