Finspire Explorer Companion Webapp
Unifying the gallery experience at the Georgia Aquarium
Context
The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species across nine galleries and receives 3M+ visitors per year. The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species across nine galleries and receives 3M+ visitors per year.
Problem Statement
The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species across nine galleries and receives 3M+ visitors per year. The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial s
What exactly is the problem?
Primary Research Insights
Challenge: Visitors are overwhelmed by scale and variet
The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species across nine galleries and receives 3M+ visitors per year.
Challenge
The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species across nine galleries and receives 3M+ visitors per year.
Challenge
The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species across nine galleries and receives 3M+ visitors per year.
My Role
The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species
2025 | Sponsored Project
Unifying the gallery experience at the Georgia Aquarium
Role: UI/UX Designer
Timeline: August - December 2025
Stakeholder: Georgia Aquarium
Team: Josalyn Chow, Tanya Punater, Natasha Valluri
500+ Species, 9 Galleries, 2,000,000+ Visitors
Background:
The Georgia Aquarium is a non-profit in Atlanta that houses over 500 aquatic and terrestrial species across nine galleries and receives 2M+ visitors per year.
Their mission centers on education, conservation, and ethical animal care through immersive experiences like the Touch Pool, Dolphin Show, and digital exhibits.
Project Goal:
Implement a digital, gamified experience that remains accessible, inclusive, and suitable for all guests through potential scavenger hunts, badge earning, and species discovery
The aim is to provide a cohesive, personalized experience that helps first-time visitors navigate the aquarium’s scale and variety without feeling overwhelmed.
How might we create a cohesive, interactive experience that considers
Education
Gamification
Conservation
Accessibility
The Solution: Finspire Explorer Webapp
A companion webapp that turns gallery and species discovery into an adventure through a customizable scavenger search
With 500+ species to discover, it’s easy for guests to feel overwhelmed and thus, overlook some animals. Finspire Explorer turns that challenge into an opportunity by spotlighting one “mystery species” per gallery, inviting visitors to identify it through a series of illustrated clues. A correct guess unlocks a digital trading card which is part souvenir and part conservation tool.
Designed for all ages and levels of marine knowledge, this scavenger-style game brings lesser-known or endangered animals into the spotlight while encouraging guests to look closer, engage with their surroundings, and track their exploration progress.