Appendix A
Interactive Interpretation Brief – Request for Proposal
25 August 2005
1. Introduction
The Cotswolds Conservation Board, as part of the Caring for the Cotswolds Project, is
proposing to develop a programme of interpretation to help inform residents of and visitors
to the Cotswolds AONB of the importance and effects of land management in the
Cotswolds AONB.
The Conservation Board intends this programme to be high tech, innovative, interactive and
memorable. As part of the programme, interpretation will be taken to surrounding urban
areas, such as Gloucester, Bristol, Oxford and Birmingham to spread the awareness of how
the countryside has evolved, how it is managed and why and what would happen if different
approaches to land management were adopted. This will help to increase confidence and
understanding of the countryside and encourage greater informal recreational use of the
countryside. Separately a programme of more traditionally based static display exhibitions
will also be arranged.
The Caring for the Cotswolds Project is a five year programme to restore key landscape
features, celebrate local distinctiveness and inform resident and visitors about the
Cotswolds AONB and its land management. It is funded by a 50% grant from the Heritage
Lottery Fund.
2. Quotation
This request will expect costed proposals to show in detail:
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What can be achieved for the budget
What hardware is proposed and why
What software will be used/designed, explaining the approach
How the hardware and software will be developed, explaining the approach
A project timescale showing key stages
Future annual maintenance requirements and costs
Integration with the Conservation Board’s existing branding
The proposal must also give examples of your related work
3. Type of Interpretation
Interactive ‘High Tech’ displays housed in robust, secure, attractive and easy to clean
Kiosks of modern design capable of transportation to other sites
4. Location
The kiosks will be taken to a variety of locations for use by the public, libraries, community
centres, sports centres, shopping centres, garden centres, Cotswold Heritage Centre
5. Target Audience
Children (Key Stage 2 and above), families
6. Key Elements
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An interactive programme that will keep the attention of users of all ages
The interactive should create a sense of discovery, be informative and fun and
encourage users to explore at their own pace
Use sound to help interpret the Countryside
Must cater for a range of languages
It must be physically and intellectually accessible to a wide range of people, catering
for different degrees of interest and previous experience about the countryside
The kiosks must be ‘plug and play’, be safe and secure
7. Objectives
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To provide multi- layered information to tell the story of how the Cotswold landscape
has evolved and to help people understand countryside issues in general and those
that affect the Cotswolds AONB in particular
To inform all age groups about the effects of land management on the existing
landscape, what the countryside would look like if farming practices changed or
stopped, if climate change continues, the linkage between what the landscape looks
like and the food produced
Information about flora and forna, How dry stone walls in the Cotswolds are home to
a variety of animals
Use technology to allow visitors/users to interact with the display – leading to for
example, what if farming stopped, rivers dried up, farming was arable, forestry
expanded etc..
8. Detailed Objectives
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Illustrate what the landscape looked like in medieval times, how it and farming have
evolved, in particular the field enclosure of the Cotswolds, the growth of sheep
farming, the development and effects of quarrying, farm settlements and modern
farming methods and their impact on the landscape
Illustrate the range of species to be found in grazed grassland and the importance of
their conservation
Show how modern food production effects how the landscape looks
A year on the farm in the Cotswolds
The geology of the area and how it effects land management
9. Duration of Interactive
12 minutes approx.
10. Requirements
Six interactive kiosks with software to illustrate the Cotswolds AONB, countryside issues
and management approaches and how these link to food production – why the landscape
looks the way it does.
The interactive kiosk and software must be easy to use, hard-wearing and reliable. It must
be capable of being updated and replaced by another interactive
The interactive software must be self running and could be based around a form of ‘Play
Station’ approach rather than a full key board or touch screen
11. Adaptability and Longevity
The resources being created must have both adaptability and longevity. It must be possible
to add new information and alterations without starting again
12. Diverse Technology
Use of different imaging techniques will need to be employed in order to fulfil the main
objectives.
Visual techniques such as overlaying animation on video images of the Cotswold
landscape could be appropriate
13. Internet and CD Roms
Some aspects of the interactive must be compatible with the web. The end product must be
able to be sold commercially
14. Timescale
The software and kiosks will be launched in April 2006.
Development of the hardware and software must be complete by February 2006.
15. Quotation
Quotation must be received at the Conservation Board offices, Northleach, Glos. by Noon
on Tuesday 27 September 2005
16. Budget
The Budget available is £100,000
Your quotation must show a detailed break down of your costs, and a proposed timescale
for completion of each stage of production and development