Through our collaboration with G+ Studios, we offer a flexible, creative, and experienced interpretation team that invests in finding and telling the most engaging heritage stories for our clients.
We have worked together over many years on multiple interpretation projects, often funded by NLHF. These typically involve undertaking interpretation planning and exhibition design in the development phase of a project and then continuing to work with the client during the delivery phase to undertake detailed design, develop the final content and create and install the heritage project.
Three areas form a springboard to our interpretive planning journey:
- The subject – highlighting the most engaging stories to make heritage come to life and make meaningful connections.
- The place – finding the essence of the site and opportunities it offers.
- The people – designing for and together with the users and audience (co-production), understanding the client team vision and how stakeholders feed into and strengthen this goal.
Our team places user-centred design at the heart of our interpretation approach. By understanding the interests and appetites of audiences, we can better identify the stories and techniques which will engage them the most. We have developed content for a wide spectrum of audiences from early years and families to more in-depth installations for specialists and deep divers!
We specialise in working with co-producers, providing support, training and guidance to craft interpretive projects.
Our services include
- Writing fully evidenced Interpretation Plans and Strategies
- Writing exhibition design briefs
- Research and content development
- Reviewing and refocusing existing interpretation offers
- Design services and installation management
- Advising on grant-funding opportunities
- Supporting professional and volunteer skills development through training
Some recent projects
The Centenary Project’ – Barrow Hill Memorial Hall
G+ Studio and TDR Heritage worked with Barrow Hill Community Trust, Barrow Hill Memorial Hall Trustees, Peak Architects, Barrow Hill Heritage Group, and the community of Barrow Hill to develop an Interpretation Plan as part of a NLHF Heritage Enterprise application.
Currently, the once-proud community building is derelict and in need of urgent rescue. The project will restore the façade and key heritage features and renovate the first floor of the building, creating a learning, skills and heritage space and a venue that will be used for celebrations and events. Working to a tight deadline, close collaboration with the Activity Planners ensured that resources were maximised and that all engagement activities meshed with the interpretive proposals for the building’s complex patterns of social and commercial use.
Kingsley Hall ‘Making Young Lives Matter’ Interpretation Plan
G+ Studio and TDR Heritage collaborated with Stand+Stare to work with the Bristol based charity 1625 Independent People, the young people it supports, and the wider consultancy team to develop an Interpretation Plan as part of a Round 2 application to the NLHF (submitted August 2024). The project aims to make the charity’s base a Grade 2* listed building a safe, welcoming, and thriving community hub where the city’s most disadvantaged young people can overcome isolation, develop skills, and rebuild their lives.
Throughout the planning process, the voice of young people guided decision-making. They helped design interpretive features and mechanisms that over time will bring new opportunities and fresh perspectives to the storytelling function of the building as its new use is established. To introduce people to the rich heritage of Kingsley Hall in a digestible format that gives them agency about what they want to learn more about, we developed the Kingsley Hall Chat Bot. This provided valuable data about which stories sparked the most interest.
Restoring and Rescuing Sudbury Gasworks
Sudbury Gasworks was a building at risk, until the project to rescue it by the Gasworks Trust began over ten years ago. The subsequent building and extension provides a multi-use village asset, with flexible spaces and a drop-in heritage offer.
G+ Studio and TDR Heritage’s Gwendolen delivered the interpretive scheme and worked with the volunteer team to research and write the interpretive content.
Bradgate House Ruins Interpretation Strategy
Working in partnership with G+ Studio, we are currently developing an Interpretation Strategy for Bradgate Park Trust. Enhancing existing audience data through targeted consultation and consultation, our work will help the Trust understand the diverse audience profile of the park, crucial in unlocking the heritage engagement potential of the ruins, which are a ‘hidden’ asset to many visitors.
Creative co-production workshops and activities with Trustees and volunteers at Bradgate Park.
Find out more
If you would like to discuss how we can help with your own project, get in touch with us here.
We also carry out a range of training and CPD opportunities, which include learning how to ‘build’ engaging interpretation for your site and brush up on existing skills.
New for 2025, we are offering a bookable ‘critical friend’ service – let us help you to sense check your work or support you or your team with some timely advice. Contact us here for bookable dates and times.