Augmented Reality Out-of-Home Advertising Examples: Transforming Public Spaces with Immersive Experiences

1. Introduction to Augmented Reality in OOH Advertising

From Times Square’s dazzling neon signs to the murals that grace metropolitan buildings, OOH advertising has long been about standing out in high-traffic areas and stimulating brand recall. Traditional billboards and murals, while effective, typically offer only visual engagement. Audiences have become so accustomed to these static formats that it’s increasingly challenging for advertisers to break through the clutter.

Augmented Reality (AR) introduces a layer of digital interactivity that extends beyond a simple glance. People can now point their smartphones at a mural or billboard and experience 3D animations, compelling video content, or interactive features that turn onlookers into active participants. This marriage of the physical and virtual worlds delivers novelty and excitement, making AR campaigns the go-to solution for brands aiming to capture the public’s imagination.

2. Why AR is Transforming the Advertising Landscape

• Enhanced Engagement: AR prompts active participation. Instead of passively consuming static imagery, audiences can explore digital layers, move around, and share the experience on social media.
• Memorable Impressions: People tend to remember activities they engage in. AR fosters a deeper level of recall, helping brands stay top-of-mind.
• Tech-Savvy Appeal: A brand that adopts AR showcases itself as forward-thinking and innovative, appealing to audiences hungry for modern, tech-driven experiences.
• Storytelling Opportunities: With AR, advertisers can integrate storytelling elements, unveiling different scenes or messages as users interact with various parts of an installation.

These attributes have led to a surge of augmented reality out-of-home advertising examples worldwide, as major brands and local communities discover the immense value of layering digital magic onto our everyday surroundings.

3. Verizon Augmented Reality Mural Storefronts

One of the most high-profile examples of AR in OOH advertising comes from Verizon, which collaborated with BrandXR to launch a series of Augmented Reality Mural Storefronts across Miami in 2024. These storefronts epitomize how AR Murals blend art, technology, and brand messaging.

BrandXR’s Contribution

BrandXR, a leading AR technology platform, has a track record of creating immersive experiences that transform ordinary public spaces into interactive wonderlands. By handling everything from concept development to implementation, BrandXR has enabled brands like Verizon to roll out dynamic AR installations that are easy to access and thoroughly engaging.

For the Verizon campaign, BrandXR’s platform recognized the mural’s visual markers through a mobile device, triggering a suite of AR animations and interactive features. Users could see lively 3D creatures, futuristic cityscapes, and brand-centric messages appear to emerge from the murals themselves. Snapchat’s WebAR capabilities powered the experience. 

The Miami Rollout: Midtown, Coconut Grove, and Hialeah

During Art Basel 2024, Verizon and BrandXR unveiled three AR murals in strategic locations across Miami—Midtown Miami, Coconut Grove, and Hialeah. Each mural had a distinct design and theme, reflecting both the local vibe and Verizon’s futuristic brand identity.

1. Midtown Miami: A vibrant design with towering skyscrapers and abstract shapes. When viewed through a smartphone, the entire cityscape came alive with lights and moving vehicles, illustrating Verizon’s role in connecting people and technologies.
   
   
2. Coconut Grove: Known for its lush greenery, Coconut Grove’s AR mural showcased nature intertwining with tech. Users could watch as digital vines grew over neon circuit boards, highlighting the harmony of environment and innovation.
   
   
3. Hialeah: With its rich cultural tapestry, Hialeah’s mural celebrated diverse communities. Through AR, portraits of local residents and cityscapes transformed into futuristic 3D visuals, underscoring how Verizon’s network powers human connections.
   
   

Impact on Art Basel 2024

Art Basel is already a magnet for art enthusiasts, influencers, and global travelers. By showcasing innovative AR murals during the event, Verizon positioned itself at the intersection of cutting-edge art and technology. Social media lit up with photos and videos of the murals’ digital metamorphoses, amplifying the brand’s reach and generating a wave of user-generated content. This synergy of creativity and technology demonstrated how augmented reality out-of-home advertising can make a splash in a crowded cultural event.

4. Electrifly Detroit Augmented Reality Mural Festival

While AR murals have begun popping up in major cities around the globe, Electrifly Detroit made history by organizing the first AR mural festival of its kind. Powered by BrandXR’s AR technology, this festival introduced 15 interactive murals scattered across metro Detroit, turning city streets into a lively digital art gallery.

First of Its Kind: 15 AR Murals

Electrifly Detroit wasn’t just another mural festival but an immersive art movement. Each of the 15 murals had embedded AR features that attendees could unlock using the Electrifly App. Artists and AR developers collaborated to design multi-layered experiences—paintings that sprang to life with animation, audio tracks that narrated stories about the artwork, and 3D elements that invited exploration from every angle.

Community Engagement and Local Impact

Detroit’s local community enthusiastically embraced the festival, which helped showcase the city’s vibrant creative scene in a whole new light. People traveled across different neighborhoods to experience every mural, effectively turning Detroit’s streets into an interactive AR treasure hunt. Local businesses near the murals saw a rise in foot traffic, while social media buzz elevated Detroit’s profile as a city that celebrates art, innovation, and community spirit.

BrandXR’s Role in Powering AR Experiences

At the heart of Electrifly Detroit was BrandXR’s robust AR platform. Artists were given the freedom to imagine digital elements that aligned with their mural themes, confident that BrandXR’s software would bring these visions to life. Festival-goers needed only to download the Electrifly Detroit app or utilize compatible AR platforms on their smartphones. This ease-of-use was crucial in ensuring thousands of visitors could instantly engage with the artwork, removing technical barriers and making AR accessible to the masses.

5. Vodaphone AR Billboards

No discussion of augmented reality out-of-home advertising examples is complete without highlighting Vodaphone. As a major telecommunications giant, Vodaphone has embraced AR to break the mold of traditional billboard advertising, erecting AR billboards in high-traffic public spaces and integrating them into AR murals in select cities.



Unforgettable Brand Experiences

Vodaphone’s AR campaign strategy revolves around surprising passersby with jaw-dropping visuals. Imagine walking past a billboard that appears static at first glance—until you open your phone’s camera to see a dynamic portal featuring 3D graphics, interactive text, and mini-games promoting the brand’s latest tech offerings. These unexpected discoveries capture attention and spark conversations, often fueling word-of-mouth marketing and viral social media shares.

Shaping the Future of OOH

Vodaphone’s billboards can deliver contextually relevant experiences by fusing real-time data with AR features. For instance, weather updates, local landmarks, or event news can be woven into the AR animation, making the content feel personalized. This level of innovation sets a new standard for AR OOH advertising, where campaigns can be hyper-localized and dynamically updated, ensuring they remain fresh and relevant.

6. How AR Enhances Brand Engagement and ROI

Whether it’s Verizon’s interactive storefronts, Electrifly’s citywide AR murals, or Vodaphone’s transformative billboards, AR consistently adds depth to OOH advertising. But how does it enhance brand engagement and ROI?

Captivating Multi-Sensory Experience

• AR merges visuals, audio, and sometimes even haptic feedback. This multi-sensory engagement fosters deeper emotional resonance, increasing the likelihood of brand recall.

Viral Social Sharing

• AR experiences are inherently share-worthy. When people discover an immersive, fun, or inspiring AR moment, they’re more inclined to post about it on social platforms—generating organic brand exposure.

Real-Time Analytics

• Brands can track how many users engage with the AR feature, how long they interact, and which aspects of the experience resonate most. This data enables advertisers to tweak and optimize campaigns for maximum impact.

Drive Foot Traffic and Sales

• AR campaigns can include embedded calls-to-action (CTAs), directing users to nearby stores or product pages. Coupons, promotions, or special offers can be unlocked via AR, driving immediate conversions.

Personalized Interactions

• Some advanced AR campaigns utilize smartphone sensors and real-time data to personalize the experience. Personalization fosters stronger emotional connections and brand loyalty.



All these factors converge to make AR a powerful tool for brand visibility and boosting overall marketing effectiveness.

7. Best Practices for Launching an AR OOH Campaign

If these examples from Verizon, Electrifly Detroit, and Vodaphone have piqued your interest in launching an AR OOH campaign, consider the following best practices:

Identify Clear Objectives

• Determine if your primary goal is brand awareness, user engagement, or driving sales. This will guide your creative and technical strategy.

Choose the Right Location

• High-traffic areas with a receptive demographic can yield higher user engagement. Locations near popular events, tourist attractions, or trendy neighborhoods often work well.

Collaborate with AR Specialists

• Partner with tech platforms like BrandXR with the expertise to ensure your AR elements are stable, user-friendly, and visually compelling.

Keep It Accessible

• Offer multiple ways to access the AR experience—through a dedicated app, social media filters, or a web-based AR interface. Reducing friction encourages participation.

Integrate Storytelling

• Go beyond simple 3D animations. Weave narratives or themes into your AR content to create deeper emotional connections.

Plan for Updates and Evolution

• AR campaigns can be dynamic. Roll out periodic updates, new animations, or seasonal themes to keep content fresh and encourage repeat engagements.

Leverage Social Media

• Use hashtags, challenges, or user-generated content prompts to spark online conversation. The viral potential can amplify your campaign’s reach exponentially.

Measure Results

• Track app downloads, dwell time, engagement rates, social media shares, and redemption of any in-AR offers. Use these insights to refine or expand your campaign.

By following these guidelines, brands can unlock the full potential of augmented reality out-of-home advertising, creating a memorable moment and a robust, ongoing conversation with the public.

8. Conclusion: The Future of Augmented Reality in Public Spaces

Augmented Reality is indisputably reshaping OOH advertising, turning once-static billboards and murals into living canvases that spark excitement and curiosity. As demonstrated by Verizon’s AR Mural Storefronts in Miami, the Electrifly Detroit Augmented Reality Mural Festival, and Vodaphone’s cutting-edge AR billboards, AR’s ability to blend art, interactivity, and technology presents unparalleled opportunities for immersive brand experiences.

Looking ahead, we can anticipate a world where AR becomes the norm rather than the exception. Advances in hardware—such as AR glasses and more powerful smartphones—will expand the scope of what’s possible, enabling hyper-personalized, context-aware campaigns. As these technologies mature and consumer adoption grows, AR will continue to set new standards for advertising impact, ushering in an era where every corner of our urban landscape has the potential to come alive with captivating digital layers.

Key Takeaways:

• Engagement: AR invites active user participation, making it more effective than passive, static ads.
• Creativity: Brands can incorporate storytelling and interactivity to build meaningful consumer connections.
• Scalability: With platforms like BrandXR, rolling out AR campaigns has become more accessible and scalable.
• Longevity: AR campaigns can be updated over time, offering new experiences and maintaining public interest.

In essence, augmented reality offers a tantalizing glimpse into the future of advertising—a future where brands don’t just speak to audiences but invite them to interact with the brand. As AR innovations become more affordable and user-friendly, expect to see an ever-growing tapestry of augmented reality out-of-home advertising examples—from towering AR billboards to entire neighborhoods adorned with living murals. For advertisers, artists, and consumers alike, this fusion of the physical and digital realms promises a new epoch of creativity, connection, and unforgettable brand experiences.