The Challenge

CrossComm wanted to establish a strong connection between its brand and augmented reality (AR). As immersive technologies were relatively new to the general public, there was an opportunity to become one of the first experiences that individuals associated with this emerging technology.

Unleashing Creativity

To address the challenge, I devised an innovative approach that merged augmented reality, music, and comedy to create an engaging and entertaining experience.

Utilizing a coaster as the tangible AR marker allowed CrossComm to put the experience in the hands of event -goers as a giveaway. This extended the engagement beyond the initial demonstration, making it a memorable and lasting experience.

Bringing Characters to Life

Collaborating with a talented 3D designer, we introduced Dennis, a charismatic character sporting a CrossComm shirt and square-framed glasses. Dennis became the star of the experience, captivating users with his humorous dance moves and confident, nerdy attitude.

Creating the Song

I took on the task of writing, producing, and recording an original song in Dennis’s voice. The lyrics and Dennis’s confident yet nerdy personality allowed us to subtly promote CrossComm’s strengths and achievements without coming across as dull or overly “salesy”. We were able to showcase the company’s expertise while maintaining a comedic and approachable tone.

Picking up Technical Skills

To seamlessly integrate the coaster, music, and the 3D character into an AR experience, I explored and acquired new skills. Using platforms Mixamo, I carefully selected dance moves for Dennis that matched the comedic tone of the experience. Then, I learned how to stitch the dance moves together in Blender.

Finally, I learned just enough A-frame programming to enable the coaster to recognize the image marker and trigger the captivating 3D animation.

Successful Deployment and Impact

The augmented reality coaster made its debut as a giveaway at two sponsored events. At one conference, it was distributed at CrossComm’s booth, and at another conference, it was included in event swag bags, ensuring a broad reach.

The coaster garnered attention at the conferences and generated laughter, leaving a lasting impression on attendees. Many even remembered CrossComm specifically because of the coaster, demonstrating its effectiveness as a brand engagement tool.

Conclusion

The augmented reality coaster was a hit! It was much more than just a fun giveaway. It successfully linked CrossComm’s brand with augmented reality, creating an unforgettable and entertaining encounter for users. The coaster showcased CrossComm’s creativity and ability to leverage cutting-edge technology.

This project also won two silver Telly awards in the following categories:

• Immersive, Interactive, & Mixed – Use of Music: Official Listing

• Immersive, Interactive, & Mixed – Branding: Official Listing