The concept was clear: an app-based, self-guided tour unlike anything currently available in the audio tour space.
When our client envisioned the Arrowtown Audio Tour, they sought to do more than share the town’s rich history—they wanted to transport users back in time. By combining high-quality narration, cinematic soundscapes, and engaging visuals, the experience needed to immerse users fully in Arrowtown’s gold-rush past. For such an ambitious idea, off-the-shelf solutions simply wouldn’t suffice. This project required a custom-built app, a cohesive brand, and premium touchpoints that conveyed the value and craftsmanship of the experience.
We created a brand that reflected the app’s purpose: an elegant, nostalgic identity inspired by Arrowtown’s pioneering roots.
From the outset, the Arrowtown Audio Tour was designed to be revolutionary. This vision extended across all collateral, including an antique-style ticket that served as a tactile promotion of the immersive experience. Every touchpoint, from print to app, was designed to evoke a sense of stepping back in time while delivering a modern, user-friendly experience.
The app itself is the centerpiece of the project. Built from scratch, it features live location tracking, enabling users to navigate Arrowtown’s historic streets with ease. Audio production was elevated with professional voice actors and cinematic-quality sound design, ensuring the stories felt alive and authentic. A rich media player enhances the experience, incorporating historic images that allow users to see the Arrowtown of yesteryear as they listen. This meticulous attention to detail created an experience that resonates with history buffs, families, and curious travelers alike.
What sets the Arrowtown Audio Tour apart is the integration of immersive storytelling with cutting-edge app functionality.
The app is intuitive, guiding users through local walking routes while delivering over two hours of engaging audio content. High-quality production values and attention to narrative detail make the stories deeply compelling, connecting users with the voices and experiences of Arrowtown’s past.
The Arrowtown Audio Tour app is more than just an audio guide; it’s an entirely new way of experiencing history. It combines cutting-edge technology with storytelling artistry to create something truly unique. Since launch, the app has been celebrated for its quality, innovation, and ability to bring Arrowtown’s history to life.
For us at Whitelaw Mitchell, this project is a testament to the power of design and technology to transform ideas into memorable experiences. By creating an app as immersive as the stories it tells, we’ve helped our client establish a groundbreaking product in the audio tour space. The Arrowtown Audio Tour doesn’t just share history—it lets users step into it.
Download the app on the App Store.
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I approached Whitelaw Mitchell with an idea and a vague vision of possibilities. Maranda and Kim grabbed hold of that vision, built on it, refined it, and brought it to life. From a strong visual identity and a host of collaterals to a technically excellent app that delivers a user experience far beyond my initial expectations, this project was a true collaboration that could not have been realized without their support.
Nick Fifield