Link To Broken Spoke Tour

Project Overview

As a UX designer, I led the creation of a virtual reality (VR) experience focused on “The Broken Spoke,” a historic honky-tonk dance hall in Austin, Texas. This project aimed to preserve and highlight Austin’s cultural heritage by immersing users in the lively atmosphere of The Broken Spoke. It allowed them to experience its rich history and significance firsthand.

Problem Statement

The Broken Spoke, a key part of Austin’s music scene, faces threats from rapid urban development and gentrification. With more than 50 years of history, this iconic venue risks losing its cultural significance as the area around it changes. The challenge was to create an engaging way to preserve and raise awareness of The Broken Spoke’s heritage.

Research and Insights

To understand the cultural importance of The Broken Spoke, I conducted thorough research, which included:

• Interviews with locals and patrons to collect personal stories and memories about the venue.
• Analysis of historical documents, photographs, and videos to capture the venue’s atmosphere and significance accurately.
• Study of urban development trends in Austin to understand the threats to The Broken Spoke’s existence.

These insights revealed the deep emotional connection many Austinites have with The Broken Spoke. They also highlighted the broader impact of potentially losing this cultural icon to gentrification.

Design Process

1. Concept Development:

• The concept was to create a VR experience that would transport users to The Broken Spoke. It would allow them to explore the venue, listen to honky-tonk music, and learn about its history through interactive storytelling.

2. Prototyping and User Testing:

• I developed simple wireframes and storyboards to outline the user journey within the VR experience.
• Using tools like Unity and Blender, I created a prototype of the VR environment, focusing on key areas of The Broken Spoke, such as the dance floor, bar, and stage.
• The prototype was tested with users familiar with Austin’s culture to gather feedback on the experience’s authenticity and emotional impact.

3. Iteration and Refinement:

• Based on user feedback, I refined the VR environment to enhance realism and ensure the experience evoked the same sense of nostalgia as visiting The Broken Spoke in person.
• I added interactive elements, such as a timeline of significant events in The Broken Spoke’s history and interviews with long-time patrons and musicians.

Final Design

The final VR experience allows users to:

• Explore a virtual recreation of The Broken Spoke, experiencing its unique atmosphere from different eras.
• Interact with historical artifacts and stories, learning about the venue’s role in preserving Austin’s musical heritage.
• Engage with audio-visual elements, including live music performances and interviews, that highlight the cultural importance of The Broken Spoke.

Challenges Overcome

Ensuring that the VR experience felt authentic and emotionally resonant was a key challenge. This required careful attention to detail in the environment design and the selection of multimedia elements. Additionally, I had to address technical constraints. I optimized the VR experience for different platforms while maintaining high visual and audio quality.

Impact and Conclusion

The VR project successfully raised awareness about the importance of preserving Austin’s cultural heritage. It provided an innovative way for people to connect with The Broken Spoke, even if they could not visit in person. The project demonstrated the power of VR in cultural preservation, offering a scalable model that can be applied to other threatened cultural landmarks.

This project not only enhanced my skills in UX design and VR development but also deepened my appreciation for the role of design in cultural preservation. Through this experience, I learned the importance of user-centered design in creating impactful and meaningful experiences that resonate on both an emotional and cultural level.