Developing iOS and android apps for UK art trails
Making Trails iOS and Android apps
Making Trails launched their first sculpture trail in 2020, called Burton Swans. For this trail, they enlisted the expertise of Haywyre to develop an innovative iOS and Android app. This interactive app complemented the physical sculptures, enriching the trail experience and providing visitors with valuable information about the sponsors and artwork at each location.
Building on their initial success, Making Trails went on to launch two more projects in 2022: the captivating North Notts Nectar Trail and the Big Burton Carousel. 2024 saw the launch of the Burton Barrel Roll app and in July 2025 we will be unveiling the Buzz in the City trail app. Each project has required its own personalised app to support the trail.
Our Approach
At Haywyre, we were thrilled to be entrusted with the task of building and designing bespoke iOS and Android apps for each of the captivating sculpture trails launched by Making Trails. Our mission was to ensure these apps provided an exceptional user experience and seamlessly ran on Apple (iOS) and Google (Android) smartphones, available for free download from their respective app stores.
Our primary goal was to make the apps easy to use while offering an interactive element for trail visitors. The app's main function was to guide visitors with a user-friendly map, ensuring they could locate all the sculptures effortlessly. An exciting and interactive aspect was incorporated by allowing visitors to type a unique four-digit code found on each sculpture into the app. This unlocked additional information, messages, or rewards, adding to the visitors' engagement and delight.
To keep the content fresh and up-to-date, we developed a dynamic database, enabling live updates throughout the trail's duration. Prior to going live, our dedicated team conducted extensive testing to ensure every element of the app worked flawlessly.
The Outcome
With thousands of app downloads for each project, Making Trails has successfully empowered visitors to explore and navigate the captivating sculpture trails like never before. These apps have not only facilitated seamless exploration but also provided invaluable data to gauge the positive impact of these trails in various locations.
The overwhelming positive feedback from trail commissioners and visitors alike highlights the app's significance in quantifying success and supporting the growth of future endeavors. Our ongoing partnership with Making Trails has allowed us to continually evolve the app technology while maintaining the company's consistent brand identity.
