Livingston County Historical Society: Client Consulting
Adobe Premiere Pro, Canva, Adobe Stock, Adobe Fonts, Trello, Agile Project Management
Livingston County Historical Society - The Client:
The Livingston County Historical Society is a museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Livingston County, New York. Their mission is to connect communities with local history through educational programming and exhibits. The museum is currently developing a new salt mine exhibit and wanted to include engaging multimedia content that would appeal to a wide range of visitors, from elementary school students to retirees. They asked our group to condense and repurpose an existing salt mine video into two shorter, more accessible videos: one on above-ground mining and one on below-ground mining. These videos will be used in the exhibit
This project, which lasted about a month and a half, was managed using an Agile project management approach. We worked in two sprints to iteratively develop and refine our video deliverables. The content focuses on the operations of American Rock Salt, the largest operating salt mine in the United States, located in Livingston County. Our goal was to create videos that were not only informative but also visually engaging and accessible to a broad audience.
We collaborated with key stakeholders, including Anna Kowalchuk, the museum director, who provided consistent feedback on script revisions and user experience. We also worked with Dave Mandeville, who had created the original YouTube video we used during Sprint 1. While communication was initially limited, we later received high-quality raw footage from him during Sprint 2, which played a crucial role in improving our final products.
Long Form Video Editing Team:
Our team consisted of five students from Miami University, each bringing a unique set of skills. Early in the project, we worked together to define the scope, identify our goals, and determine the tone and structure we wanted for the final videos. This collaborative planning phase helped guide our decisions throughout both sprints. I was one of three editors on the team and played a key role in shaping the final videos through scripting, editing, organizing footage, and adding narration and visuals.
The Problem:
Based on our user stories and research, we identified the core problem as a lack of engaging and accessible digital content about the salt mine process. Key users included:
General museum visitors who want to learn more in an engaging way
Teachers and students who needed clear, age-appropriate educational material
Visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing who require accurate subtitles
Personas:
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As a museum visitor who is curious learner,
I want to watch a well-organized and engaging video about the salt mining process,
So that I can understand how salt is mined and its significance
--
Clear & Interesting
Easy to understand, no confusing words
Explains what the museum offers in a fun way
Good Quality
Sharp video (HD or better)
Clear sound, no distracting background noise
Accessible for Everyone
Has captions or subtitles
Text and visuals are big and easy to see
Short & Engaging
3-5 minutes long to keep attention
Makes people excited to visit the museum
Reviewed & Approved
Museum staff checked and approved it
Feedback was used to improve it
Test viewers understood everything
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As a teacher visiting the museum with my students,
I want to watch a video that is visually engaging and easy for kids to understand,
So that my students can stay interested while learning about salt mining.
--
Clear & Easy to Follow
Simple language that students can understand
Explains the museum in a way that interests both teachers and students
Good Quality
Sharp video (HD or better)
Clear audio, no distracting background noise
Accessible for Everyone
Captions or subtitles included
Text and visuals are big and easy to read
Engaging for Students
3-5 minutes long to hold attention
Fun and interactive feel to keep students interested
Useful for Teachers
Gives teachers helpful information to continue lesson plan after the visit
Highlights salt mining and makes it interesting to students
Reviewed & Approved
Museum staff and educators checked and approved it
Feedback was used to improve it
Tested with teachers and students to make sure it works
-
As a museum visitor who is deaf or hard of hearing/non native English speaker
I want to watch the salt mining video with accurate subtitles,
So that I can fully understand the information without relying on audio.
--
Clear & Easy to Understand
Simple language, no complex words
Explains the museum experience in a straightforward way
Good Quality
Sharp video (HD or better)
Clear audio without distracting background noise
Subtitles Included
Subtitles match the spoken words accurately
Easy-to-read font, large size, and high contrast
Available in multiple languages if needed
Accessible & Engaging
3-5 minutes long to keep attention
Visuals help explain the content without relying only on audio
Reviewed & Approved
Checked by museum staff for accuracy
Tested with people who rely on subtitles to ensure readability
The Design Process:
At the beginning of Sprint 1, we were only provided with a YouTube video to base our work on. We reached out to Anna in hopes of getting more raw footage or at least a downloadable version of the YouTube file. We held off on editing for as long as possible because the YouTube video was not what we had hoped for. It included background music, fast transitions, and overall lower quality than what we wanted for the final product. Unfortunately, we never received any additional footage during Sprint 1. We also reached out to Dave Mandeville, the museum’s contact, to request access to the original files. At the time, communication was difficult because emails and messages went unanswered, which delayed our workflow. As a result, our Sprint 1 video had to be made using only the YouTube footage. It ended up feeling rushed, low in quality, and not aligned with the kind of educational tool we wanted to create for the museum.
For Sprint 2, we were determined to improve and deliver something the museum could actually use. We reached out to everyone we possibly could, including making phone calls, in an effort to get the footage we needed. Eventually, we were able to reconnect with Dave, who provided us with a collection of high-quality clips. This included both new footage and the original files that had previously gone missing due to storage issues on his drive. Once we had the footage, we moved forward with scripting and editing. We revised our script based on feedback from Anna to ensure the content was educational, clear, and appropriate for a wide audience. Even though we received the footage later in the sprint and still had to work quickly, the final videos were a major improvement. They were much closer to what we had envisioned and something we felt proud to present to the client.
Research Results:
To assess how effective our video was in educating and engaging viewers, we conducted a survey following a test screening. Before watching the video, 66.7% of participants said they were very unlikely to visit the Livingston County Historical Society, showing low initial interest. However, after viewing, nearly 40% said they were more likely to visit, indicating a clear positive shift in perception. Additionally, 94.4% of respondents said they found the video very educational, and over 94% agreed that the content was presented clearly and in an engaging way. The majority also felt the video was the right length, and 77.8% recommended it be shown in the museum exhibit. When asked about their biggest takeaways, responses reflected a deeper appreciation for the complexity and scale of salt mining, as well as interest in the local impact. These results helped confirm that our final deliverables were both informative and compelling for a general audience.
Sprint 1 Deliverable:
While this deliverable was not at the quality or production level we had hoped for, Sprint 1 ended up being a crucial part of the overall process. Without it, the stakeholders would not have fully realized how essential it was to have access to individual, high-quality video clips in order to create the kind of engaging and polished final product we envisioned. Sprint 1 helped clarify exactly what we needed to improve, from pacing and structure to visual clarity and content flexibility. This early version gave us the opportunity to test out our ideas and identify limitations, which made our Sprint 2 video significantly better.
For Sprint 1, I was responsible for editing the first one minute and eight seconds of the video. I gathered footage from the original YouTube video, helped write the script, edited the narration, and created the title screen. The other two editors on our team contributed about a minute each to complete the remaining portions. Even though the final result from Sprint 1 was not what we wanted it to be, the experience taught us a lot and set the groundwork for major improvements in the next phase.
Final Deliverable Videos:
Above Ground Mining video
Below Ground Mining video
Both videos combined in different formats
Each video is around 7-8 minutes long, includes subtitles, and clearly walks through each part of the mining process.
We are incredibly proud of our final deliverables and how much more refined and professional they are compared to our Sprint 1 version. After receiving access to a large collection of raw video footage during Sprint 2, we were finally able to edit with the flexibility and quality we needed. This made a major difference in both the creative process and the final outcome. I was one of three editors on the team and contributed to both versions of the video. My responsibilities included reviewing and organizing the video files we received, editing the narration, creating the title screen, and producing the final outro.
For the Below to Above Ground Mining video, I edited the first two minutes of the below ground section independently. Originally, the below and above ground videos were created as separate deliverables. Once we decided to combine them into a single, cohesive video, I removed the original outro I had produced and created a new one using updated narration and fresh footage to ensure a smooth transition between the two sections. One of my teammates edited the rest of the below ground portion, while the third editor focused on the above ground content.
The final combined video was assembled by one of my teammates, who did an excellent job stitching together all our individual edits into one seamless piece. She integrated my section with the rest of the video and helped ensure everything flowed visually and narratively. She and I also worked together to design and edit the credit outros for both versions, making sure they matched in tone and style. I am proud of how much I contributed across both the creative and coordination aspects of this project, especially in helping shape the final structure and polish of our deliverables.
Below to Above ground mining:
Above to Below ground mining:
Summary:
Throughout this project, the process of creating two educational videos for the Livingston County Historical Society was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. We followed an Agile project management structure, working in two sprints and continuously adapting based on feedback and shifting circumstances. One of the biggest challenges was that we did not receive the raw video footage until late in each sprint. This often forced us to complete major portions of the work at the last minute, which made planning and pacing difficult. Despite this, our team showed remarkable flexibility and determination. We adjusted quickly, stayed in constant communication, and supported each other to keep the project moving forward with creativity and focus.
What stood out most to me was how much I learned from working on a real-world client project. I improved my video editing abilities, became more confident in writing educational content, and learned how to handle unexpected obstacles with a professional mindset. I also developed stronger communication skills by collaborating closely with both my team and the client. I learned how to ask thoughtful questions, listen to feedback, and stay grounded in the overall goals of the project.
Even with all the challenges, I truly enjoyed this experience. It was meaningful to create something that will be used in a museum setting to help visitors learn about the salt mining process. I am extremely proud of the final videos we delivered, and it was an exciting accomplishment to have our work featured in the ETBD Expo at the end of the semester. This project reminded me of the power of collaboration, the importance of adaptability, and how rewarding it can be to create something that educates and inspires others.
