Snap Inc announced on Tuesday it has launched a studio to build augmented reality (AR) advertisements and experiences for major brands as it aims to expand use cases of the new technology.
The Snapchat owner’s social media platform allows people to use AR filters to modify real-time video and images and aims to launch a pair of AR smart glasses in the near future.
Jeff Miller, Global Head of Creative Strategy, said the new Arcadia studio will build AR experiences for Snapchat users as well as other social media apps and websites, adding:
“The goal is to push the boundaries of what’s possible in AR.”
According to the Santa Monica-based tech company, Arcadia will focus on three service points such as becoming the official “AR Studio of Record” tasked with Snap’s AR production, insights, and strategy.
The new studio will also conduct project-based work with clients, and offer AR Strategy insights to clients via workshops and trend reporting. Arcadia’s first list of clients include Verizon Communications Inc, the World Wrestling Federation, Shake Shack, and P&G Beauty.
The ‘Snap Shack’ Effect, Snap Partnerships
Last week, the AR studio revealed its first project with Shake Shack at its Hudson Yards restaurant in New York, allowing visitors to use Snapchat to try on ‘Snap Shack’ clothes
Customers were also entertained with AR-powered lenses with content such as dancing cheesburgers, hot dogs, and other assorted food.
The news comes after the AR firm partnered with NexTech AR to integrate 3D advertisements from Google’s massive ad network on its Snapchat social media platform.
Snap has also launched a major push in the music industry after earning a multi-year partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG), which will create a massive music catalogue for Snapchat users to access UMG’s music titles for its Sounds and AR Lenses tools.
