Overview

The V&A Dundee is Scotland’s first design museum and the first Victoria & Albert Museum outside London. From its striking waterfront architecture to the internationally renowned Scottish Design Galleries, the museum is committed to making design accessible, inclusive, and relevant to all audiences.

Smartify partnered with V&A Dundee to develop a series of digital audio guides that reflect this commitment, supporting diverse visitor needs while enhancing engagement with both the collection and the building itself.

The brief

V&A Dundee set out to ensure that its interpretation and storytelling met world-class accessibility standards. A key priority was translating core gallery content into British Sign Language (BSL) and multiple international languages, while maintaining a high-quality, engaging visitor experience.

The museum also wanted to explore how digital guides could support visitor choice. Allowing people to explore at their own pace, follow their own interests, and engage more deeply with design through their own devices.

Photo by Hufton Crow/Courtesy V&A Dundee

The solution

Smartify worked closely with the V&A Dundee team to co-create a suite of digital audio guides covering highlights from the Scottish Design Galleries as well as the museum’s iconic architecture.

Delivered via visitors’ own smartphones, the guides combine clear wayfinding, accessible design, and rich storytelling. Content was structured to support different visitor preferences, from shorter highlights to deeper exploration, while BSL and multilingual options ensured a more inclusive experience for local and international audiences alike.

The results

By using Smartify’s personalisation and wayfinding tools, visitors can easily navigate the museum, discover key objects, and connect to an expanding ecosystem of digital experiences before, during, and after their visit.

The audio guides have strengthened V&A Dundee’s accessibility offer while encouraging more active, self-directed exploration and building a deeper connection with Scotland’s national design museum.