We’re excited to highlight the Interactive Map project developed for North Dakota State University (NDSU) — a fully customized, responsive tool designed to help students and visitors explore campus housing and dining options in a visually engaging and intuitive way.
Project Overview
Client: North Dakota State University
Objective: Build an interactive campus map showcasing dorms, dining centers, and building amenities
Technology: Mapbox, Custom JavaScript/CSS
Bringing Campus to Life
The map was designed to showcase NDSU’s wide variety of housing and dining services, providing students with an easy way to filter and explore their options. Whether a visitor is on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, the map adapts seamlessly to the screen size, making it accessible on the go.
Core Features Include:
- Dynamic Filtering:
Users can filter buildings by:- Type: Apartment or Residence Hall
- Style: Traditional Style – Low Rise, Suite Style – High Rise, or Apartment Style
- Gender: Women’s, Men’s, or Co-Ed housing
- Connected to Dining Center: Yes or No
- Air Conditioning: Yes or No
- Visual Experience:
- Grayscale Base Map for a clean, professional look
- 3D Building Models for enhanced spatial understanding
- Yellow Dots marking virtual tours of dorm buildings
- Green Dots marking the names and locations of dining centers
- Virtual Tours:
The map integrates immersive virtual dorm tours created by Be More Colorful, allowing prospective students to “step inside” and explore spaces without being on campus.
Development Process
- Concept & Planning: Collaborated with NDSU to define filtering criteria, user interface needs, and visual style.
- Mapbox Implementation: Used Mapbox to design and style the map with responsive 3D elements and interactive controls.
- Custom Coding: Built custom JavaScript functionality for the multi-layered filtering system.
- Partner Integration: Embedded virtual tours from Be More Colorful to enhance the user experience.
- Testing & Launch: Conducted usability testing across devices to ensure smooth navigation and optimal performance.
Impact
The Interactive Map now serves as a valuable resource for prospective and current students, helping them make informed housing and dining choices. It combines practicality with an engaging visual experience, making it a powerful marketing and informational tool for NDSU.
Conclusion
This project is a perfect example of how thoughtful design, modern mapping technology, and collaborative partnerships can come together to create an engaging, user-focused solution. The NDSU Interactive Map not only guides students through their housing and dining options but also reflects the university’s commitment to accessibility and innovation.