During my time with Norm Li AG & I, I was given the opportunity to be part of the refurbishment of the Riverside landmark, The Broadview Hotel. A 127-year-old landmark transformed into a luxury boutique Toronto hotel. Not only did I get to work on the post-production side of the project, but this was to be a huge leap into carving a name out for the company in Virtual Reality.
Streetcar Developments and Dream Unlimited, both big players in the real estate development circle, envisioned a virtual tour of the hotel. A step beyond the usual static images, they felt that this historic building deserved more. So, together with another Toronto-based design firm, DesignAgency, we collaborated to create an exceptional, memorable experience for the user.
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“We’re proud of the thought that’s being put into the design of the Broadview Hotel. The details of each space are remarkable, and we were seeking a captivating way to introduce them to the public before they can experience it firsthand this spring”
Unfortunately, due to the mammoth size of the project as a whole and all those involved, I am limited to presenting the background work that went into getting this product from the blank page to what it is today. Working alongside the Marketing Director of our company, I cannot describe the immense knowledge and learning she passed on to me. The structure and steps began as any other UX project, only there were a lot more moving parts and a lot more players to please.
My role in the project was twofold. I was the design lead for the post-production side of things, and for the app development and focusing on the UX perspective, I was responsible for the user research and evaluation of prototypes. As the developers already had a strong product in mind, it was crucial to convince them of the importance of the design process. Naturally, as they already had their idea at hand, they found it difficult to understand why all the ‘extra’ steps, they felt it quite convoluted and would add more problems than solve.
As this product was for a very specific target group, we were able to make decisions with much more ease and speed than if we were making a more widely used product. We wanted to design the app to not only show the space, but it was very important to all parties involved that we reignite the building to its former glory and not lose it’s soul to a modern cold block. We wanted the user to envision themselves within the space, be it socializing with friends, brunch with a loved one or signing off on a pivotal business deal. The Broadview Hotel offers all this and more, luxury and a sense of timelessness right in the city.