City Of Dallas - Deep Ellum

Challenge

The City of Dallas wanted to preserve and showcase over a century of Black cultural history in Deep Ellum in an engaging new format. They needed to centralize documents, music, speeches, photographs, and oral histories into a single educational experience accessible to visitors, students, and residents.

Our Approach

We collaborated with local historians and community leaders to build a mobile AR app with:

• Hand-crafted, animated 3D models tracing Deep Ellum's evolution
• A timeline from the 1850s to present, embedded with audio, interviews, documents, photos, and music
• AR scenes recreating spaces like ballrooms, architectural landmarks, and cultural moments

Our process included:

• Creative briefing and content auditing with city stakeholders
• Wireframes and UX design focused on respectful and intuitive storytelling
• 3D modeling in Maya and Blender, and app development in Unity for iOS and Android
• Extensive testing and feedback loops with local historians and community groups

User Experience

• Launch AR experiences from a flat surface, whether you're in Deep Ellum or at home
• Engage with interactive timeline stations featuring narration, media, and maps
• Learn through immersive discovery at your own pace

Impact & Recognition

• Received over one million impressions and more than a thousand downloads shortly after release
• Showcased at Juneteenth and cultural festivals, highlighting community impact and accessibility
• Nominated by the City of Dallas for its contribution to cultural storytelling and education

Why This Project Stands Out

• History meets technology: deeply researched, culturally authentic AR storytelling
• Zero friction: accessible via mobile browsers or native app without login or complexity
• Designed for inclusion, learning, and memorable engagement

Would I Want to Work with You?

Absolutely. This case study shows you can deliver polished, educational storytelling through immersive technology. It reflects strong research, community collaboration, and technical sophistication tailored to cultural institutions.

Testimonial

"I am thrilled to highly recommend [the team] for their outstanding work in creating a groundbreaking mobile app that explores history through augmented reality technology. From the early stages developing a relationship and building trust with Eric (Peterson) to the final stages packaging the product was a breeze.

Despite tight deadlines, Matt Moore (the product lead/manager) and his team went above and beyond. Not only did Matt communicate every step of the process, they also delivered a top-notch product that surpassed all expectations. Freedom Trail Origins mobile app is the first of its kind in Dallas and has truly set a new standard in the industry.

The Black history research and creative writing roles I contributed to this project paired seamlessly with [the team]’s extraordinary abilities and foreword thinking design approach. Jim Welch is leading an incredibly talented group of individuals who are not only passionate about their work, but committed to truly understanding the individual needs of their clients. I would not hesitate to engage their services again for future projects."

Deah Berry Mitchell, 
CEO Nostalgia Black, 
Historian-in-Residence,
City of Dallas