Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing the user’s perception of reality. Typically this is experienced through mobile devices.
Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive technology that overlays digital elements—like images, animations, or information—onto the real world, enhancing what you see, hear, and experience through a device such as a smartphone, tablet, or AR glasses.
Unlike Virtual Reality (VR)Reality, reimagined—VR transports users to fully digital environments, crafting unforgettable branded experiences that immerse, engage, and inspire., which immerses users in a completely digital environment, AR enriches the physical world in real time. It bridges digital content and physical spaces, making everyday environments more dynamic, more informative—and when done right, unforgettable.
Why it matters to brands
For marketingStories with purpose—marketing connects brands to people through strategy, creativity, and campaigns that drive impact. teams, AR offers more than novelty. It creates a new layer of engagementMore than just metrics—engagement is about meaningful interactions, building relationships, and creating content that sparks conversation and action. where audiences don’t just see your campaign—they interact with it. Whether it’s product packagingForm meets function—packaging design blends visuals, structure, and strategy to stand out on the shelf and in the mind. that unlocks exclusive content, an AR-powered out-of-home adThe art of persuasion—advertising is the strategic storytelling that builds brands, shapes perceptions, and drives consumer action across multiple channels., or a social filter that transforms your audienceThe heartbeat of every campaign—understanding and engaging the right audience is the key to crafting messages that resonate and drive action. into co-creators, AR delivers impact that goes beyond the scroll.
In a creative agencyWhere strategy meets storytelling—creative agencies craft bold ideas, striking visuals, and powerful campaigns that elevate brands beyond the ordinary. context, AR becomes a storytellingEmotion meets impact—storytelling is the heartbeat of branding, using narrative to connect with audiences and drive action. tool. It can:
- Add emotion and movement to static campaignsStrategy meets storytelling—campaigns bring big ideas to life, driving awareness, engagement, and conversions through powerful, multi-channel messaging..
- Bring physical activations to life for digital audiences.
- Turn passive viewersThe heartbeat of every campaign—understanding and engaging the right audience is the key to crafting messages that resonate and drive action. into participants through interactionMore than just metrics—engagement is about meaningful interactions, building relationships, and creating content that sparks conversation and action. and surprise.
Real-world use cases
Creative agencies use AR in brandMore than a logo—brand is the essence of a company, shaping identity, reputation, and customer perception. campaigns, live events, experiential marketingMake it unforgettable—experiential marketing creates immersive brand moments that engage the senses and leave a lasting impression., and social content. Examples include:
- Retail: Try-before-you-buy tools in beauty, fashion, and home decor.
- Entertainment: Interactive posters or album covers that trigger videosYour brand in motion—video captures attention, tells stories, and delivers emotion in a way that text and static visuals can’t. or 3D animations.
- PackagingFirst impressions that stick—packaging is the physical expression of your brand that protects, presents, and sells your product.: Scan a bottle or box to unlock behind-the-scenes content or gamified rewards.
At RIOT, we approachThe playbook for success—strategy defines where you're headed, how you'll get there, and what will set you apart. AR as a way to stretch the imagination while staying rooted in purpose. It’s not just about adding a digital layer—it’s about amplifying human connection through tech that feels immediate, intuitive, and surprising.
The bottom line
AR is no longer an emerging trend—it’s an expected feature in the creative toolkit. For marketing managers seeking standout campaigns, it offers a way to turn physical reality into a flexible canvas for storytelling, interaction, and brand affinity.
When paired with bold creative thinking, AR doesn’t just enhance reality—it transforms how your audience experiences your brand.
Dive deeper
Interactive AR FiltersTurn engagement into interaction—AR filters let users transform their world in real time, blending entertainment with branding in ways that captivate and convert., Immersive ExperiencesStep inside the story—brands are crafting interactive, multi-sensory experiences that engage audiences deeper than ever before, leaving lasting emotional impressions., Virtual Reality (VRReality, reimagined—VR transports users to fully digital environments, crafting unforgettable branded experiences that immerse, engage, and inspire.), Extended Reality (XR)The future of storytelling is immersive—XR fuses augmented, virtual, and mixed realities, creating limitless experiences that transport audiences beyond the screen., Interactive DesignDesign that responds—interactive design creates dynamic, user-driven experiences that turn passive viewers into active participants.
