How to Create Augmented Reality Murals

Augmented Reality murals blend art and technology, turning static walls into interactive, immersive experiences visible through a smartphone.

Augmented Reality (AR) murals combine advanced AR technology with one of the world's oldest art forms—mural painting—to create interactive, immersive murals that captivate audiences. Instead of a static painted wall, an AR mural comes alive when viewed through a mobile device or AR app. Viewers can point their smartphones at the mural to trigger 3D animations, videos, sound, and other digital overlays that transform the artwork into an interactive experience. This blend of physical art and augmented reality turns onlookers into active participants, delivering a "wow" factor that traditional murals or billboards alone cannot achieve. Major brands and public art projects are increasingly using AR murals for out-of-home advertising to stand out—engaging viewers longer, encouraging social sharing, and gathering valuable data along the way. In this article, we'll explain what AR murals are, how they work, the benefits they provide for engagement and visibility, real-world case studies, and how to create augmented reality murals from concept to deployment. The goal: demonstrate why AR murals are revolutionizing out-of-home advertising and why BrandXR—pioneers of the first AR mural in 2018—are the top choice to bring these experiences to life.

What Are Augmented Reality Murals (and How Do They Work)?

An Augmented Reality mural is basically a traditional mural enhanced with digital content that appears when viewed through an AR-capable device. In practice, AR murals use computer vision image tracking to recognize the artwork and then trigger interactive digital experiences over the physical mural. Here's how it typically works: a visitor approaches the mural and scans a QR code on signage that says "Make this Mural Come Alive." This opens a web-based AR viewer or mobile app. When the device's camera recognizes the mural's image, animated content "augments" the wall – characters move, objects change, and layers of storytelling unfold, all aligned perfectly with the painted art. Users can usually tap or move around to interact with the AR elements, increasing their engagement with the scene.

This blend of physical and digital art feels almost magical – what was once static now responds to the viewer's presence. For example, imagine a street art mural of an ocean scene: through AR, sea creatures might swim out of the mural in 3D, and informational pop-ups or sound effects could play as you explore the scene. In essence, AR murals overlay augmented reality art onto real-world surfaces, creating a mixed reality experience that is visual, auditory, and sometimes even gamified. The technology behind these interactive murals includes image recognition (to lock the AR content onto the mural) and 3D animation or video content triggered by the viewer's device. Because the AR content is tied to the mural's imagery, the mural can be printed or painted on many surfaces – walls, banners, even T-shirts – and still activate the same AR experience as long as the image is recognizable. This "design once, deploy infinitely" capability makes AR murals highly flexible: the same artwork can scale from a hand-painted building wall to an interactive poster or billboard without additional development.

From a technical perspective, AR murals usually operate through mobile apps or web-based AR. Some brands use a white-label AR app (or even custom-built ones) or use popular social AR platforms (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat) to host the experience. Others, like BrandXR, offer a no-code AR platform to easily create and deploy these experiences across devices. Importantly, the barrier to entry for users is low – almost anyone with a smartphone can scan and enjoy an AR mural, without needing special equipment. This accessibility has made AR murals an exciting new medium in marketing and public art, blending the raw appeal of street art with the interactive engagement of digital media.

Benefits of Augmented Reality Murals for Brands

AR murals aren't just gimmicks—they provide real marketing and engagement benefits. For Fortune 500 brands and savvy marketers, augmented reality murals offer a powerful way to stand out and connect with audiences on multiple levels. Here are some key benefits of augmented reality murals in branding, engagement, and data, along with why they are a type of interactive, immersive mural that surpasses traditional outdoor advertising.

Unforgettable Brand Experiences

AR murals create "surprise and delight" moments for viewers. The combination of immersive visuals, interactivity, and often audio turns a static ad into a memorable experience. People are not just seeing a mural; they're participating in it. This leads to deeper emotional connections and higher recall. An engaging AR mural can leave a lasting positive impression on consumers, linking your brand with innovation and excitement. Studies show that interactive experiences greatly improve memory – for example, AR ads capture attention much longer than traditional ads, averaging over 45 seconds of engagement versus just a few seconds for static displays. By grabbing attention and providing a new experience, AR murals make sure your brand message isn't just seen, but truly felt.

Content Creation & Viral Sharing

Great AR murals become "content creation machines". When people see an AR mural, they naturally want to record and share it. Visitors will take photos or videos of themselves interacting with the immersive mural and post these on social media – effectively turning your audience into marketers for your brand. In this way, one AR mural can generate thousands or even millions of viral fan videos and photos as people share the magic with friends. This user-generated content extends your reach far beyond the physical location. An AR mural essentially creates a viral moment that can trend on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter, boosting brand visibility without additional ad spend. In marketing terms, AR murals provide social currency – people share them because they're cool and new. This organic sharing is valuable for brands: one campaign resulted in over 19,000 user-generated videos created by fans, demonstrating how interactive murals can significantly enhance your social media presence.

Engagement Metrics & Data Collection

Unlike traditional outdoor murals or billboards, which are difficult to measure, augmented reality murals are fully equipped for analytics. When users scan and interact with an AR mural, the platform (such as BrandXR's analytics dashboard) can track a variety of engagement metrics: impressions (how many people saw the mural), opens (how many launched the AR experience), interaction time, captures or snapshots taken, shares, and even demographic data about your audience. Brands can learn who, when, where, and how people engage with the mural in real time. This data turns a public art piece into a two-way marketing channel. You can measure ROI by analyzing, for example, how many users followed a call-to-action in the AR experience or how engagement correlates with foot traffic. For data-driven CMOs, this is a game changer: AR murals combine the impact of OOH (out-of-home) advertising with the analytics of digital marketing. Marketers receive dashboards full of numbers and graphs—"so we got you covered," as BrandXR notes about their AR mural analytics capabilities. In short, AR murals not only attract attention but also quantify it, enabling continuous optimization of campaigns.

Enhanced Brand Visibility

AR murals provide greater visibility and exposure for brand messages compared to static media. The novelty of an interactive mural naturally attracts crowds and media attention. People who might ignore a regular poster will stop and engage when a mural comes to life. This increases on-site brand exposure. Additionally, AR murals often feature opportunities to display sponsor logos, branded characters, or messages within the AR experience and on nearby signage. The brand isn't just on the wall; it's part of the experience. For example, an AR mural might show a company's mascot dancing across the painting or reveal a product in 3D that viewers can virtually "try out." This makes the brand stand out in a fun and memorable way. Furthermore, the press and PR value of AR murals is significant – innovative campaigns often attract local news and industry media coverage, boosting brand visibility even more. (Case in point: an AR mural project in Detroit received coverage in over 300 media outlets worldwide, greatly increasing the profile of the sponsors involved.) Overall, AR murals help your brand appear innovative and engaging, capturing attention both on the street and online.

Design Once, Deploy Infinitely

A key advantage of AR-enabled murals is their ability to be scaled across different formats. Because the AR experience is linked to an image tracker (the mural's design), you can effectively use the same AR content on any surface where that image appears. In practice, you might paint one large mural on a building, but also print that artwork on banners, window clings, flyers, or even merchandise like t-shirts or stickers – and each will activate the full AR experience via the same app. This "create once, deploy anywhere" approach means you get more value from your investment. It's cost-effective: you could expand a campaign to dozens of cities or event locations with minimal additional development costs. Moreover, AR murals built on flexible platforms can be updated or refreshed without repainting the wall; you can replace the digital content for seasonal campaigns or promotions while the physical art stays intact. This scalability makes AR murals a powerful tool for both OOH advertising and experiential marketing – you can spread different markets with interactive murals, or extend the concept to indoor signs and collateral, all linked by the same AR experience. It's a future-proof approach to mural advertising: once you have the AR artwork, the possibilities are endless.

In summary, Augmented Reality murals offer three key marketing benefits: they deeply engage audiences, encourage those audiences to promote the brand via social sharing, and provide concrete data back to the brand. They combine the impact of immersive murals with the measurability and interactivity that modern marketers seek. It's no surprise that AR murals are seen as a form of augmented reality outdoor advertising that can significantly outperform traditional static outdoor ads. For example, campaigns using AR experiences have achieved up to a 50% reduction in cost-per-engagement, four times longer viewing times, and ten times more interactions compared to standard social media ads. When you create an AR mural, you're not just painting a wall—you're launching an interactive brand experience that exists in the physical world, on people's phones, and across the internet.

AR Murals in Action: Case Studies

Nothing shows the impact of AR murals better than real-world success stories. Here we highlight three notable AR mural projects by BrandXR for leading brands – Verizon, Beyond Gravity, and Bedrock – each demonstrating how augmented reality murals boost engagement and meet strategic goals.

Verizon: Immersive Storefront Murals as OOH Advertising

When telecom giant Verizon aimed to make a splash at Miami's renowned Art Basel festival, they enlisted BrandXR to create a series of Augmented Reality mural storefronts in 2024. These AR-enhanced murals transformed Verizon's retail store facades into interactive art displays, showcasing how augmented reality for OOH advertising can boost brand visibility. BrandXR's role was comprehensive: as a leading AR platform provider, they managed everything from concept development to technical implementation. The murals were vibrant, large-scale artworks on storefront walls – but the real magic was experienced through the AR. Visitors could scan the murals with a mobile device to see a range of AR animations and interactive features unfold in sync with the artwork. For instance, in one mural, a static cityscape came to life as users saw futuristic 3D creatures and neon cityscapes emerging from the wall, illustrating Verizon's theme of connecting people through technology. Each location featured a unique theme: one mural's AR displayed skyscrapers lighting up and vehicles moving (symbolizing connectivity), another depicted digital vines growing over circuit boards (a blend of nature and technology), and another transformed local community portraits into dynamic visuals.

The impact of Verizon's AR murals was significant. Installed across three neighborhoods (Midtown, Coconut Grove, and Hialeah), these installations attracted large crowds of festival-goers eager to experience the AR features. Social media buzzed with photos and videos of people engaging with the murals, effectively turning Art Basel attendees into brand ambassadors. The user-generated content and excitement expanded Verizon's reach far beyond Miami's streets. By positioning itself at the crossroads of art and technology, Verizon not only impressed the public but also strengthened its image as an innovative, tech-savvy brand. This case study demonstrates how interactive murals can revitalize a brand's outdoor presence: the AR murals stood out amid a busy event, encouraged longer engagement (people spent time exploring the AR rather than just passing by), and generated valuable metrics and social media traction. For an executive audience, the Verizon example highlights that AR outdoor advertising can ignite the public's imagination and produce measurable viral impact – exactly what modern CMOs aim for.

Beyond Gravity: An AR Mural Igniting Innovation at HQ

Not all AR murals are outward-facing advertisements; some are placed inside corporate spaces to inspire and engage internally. Beyond Gravity, a space technology company, installed an Augmented Reality mural at their innovation hub headquarters in Alabama – a project developed with BrandXR's expertise. This mural, titled "Beyond Gravity," is a powerful example of how augmented reality art can communicate a company's mission and values to employees and visitors alike. The wall art itself depicted themes of exploration and aerospace ambition. With AR, the mural became a storytelling portal: scanning the wall allows viewers to explore layers of content about the company's history, its future vision, and technological achievements. What was once a static corporate mural transformed into an interactive, guided experience – a visual narrative of the brand's journey and aspirations.

When someone holds up their phone to the Beyond Gravity mural, they might see rockets launching, historical images or quotes appearing, or planets and stars orbiting the artwork, all synchronized with the painted elements. This dynamic experience reinforces the company's identity in a memorable way. Employees felt a deeper connection to company values, and visitors immediately understood Beyond Gravity's innovative spirit through engaging with the mural. As BrandXR's case study notes, the Beyond Gravity AR mural "evolves from a static piece of art into an engaging experience that reinforces the company's brand values of innovation and growth". By leveraging AR internally, Beyond Gravity transformed a lobby decoration into an interactive brand engagement tool. It demonstrates how AR murals can be used beyond advertising— for corporate storytelling, education, and culture-building. The success of this mural highlights an important point for executives: immersive technology can boost engagement within your organization as well, increasing morale and sparking creativity by literally bringing your mission to life on the walls.

Bedrock: Citywide Immersive Art for Community & Brand Impact

Detroit-based real estate developer Bedrock collaborated with BrandXR to launch Electrifly Detroit, an immersive AR art gallery and mural festival that stretched across downtown Detroit. This ambitious project – presented by Bedrock and powered by BrandXR's AR technology – showcased 15 augmented reality murals by various artists, transforming the city into an interactive art playground. For Bedrock, the aim was twofold: increase foot traffic and energy in downtown areas to support local businesses and properties, and establish Bedrock as a forward-thinking leader in urban innovation. The AR murals achieved this by allowing attendees to use the Electrifly AR app (built on BrandXR's platform) to reveal hidden digital layers in each mural – featuring animated characters, fantastical effects, and educational stories about Detroit's history. The experience resembled a high-tech treasure hunt, encouraging people to explore different neighborhoods to find all the AR murals.

The results were impressive both as a community engagement and a branding success for Bedrock. The immersive gallery drew over 100 visitors daily, significantly boosting foot traffic downtown and benefiting nearby businesses. In digital reach, the Electrifly app was downloaded over 3,000 times, showing strong public interest in participating through technology. Media coverage was nationwide and worldwide—the story of Detroit's AR mural festival was picked up by more than 300 media outlets globally, highlighting Bedrock as an innovator in combining art, community, and technology. This extensive PR exposure strengthened Bedrock's brand as a forward-thinking urban developer embracing new trends. Bedrock's strategic investment in AR murals exemplifies how stepping beyond traditional marketing (such as sponsoring public art with AR upgrades) can boost brand value and public support. By integrating augmented reality into public art, Bedrock reimagined the city experience and showed foresight by adopting new technology. For marketing leaders, this case study demonstrates that AR murals can do more than promote campaigns—they can also drive placemaking and experiential marketing efforts, create buzz, and enhance a company's reputation in the community. Overall, an AR mural campaign can serve as a multi-layered success—engaging the public, supporting business goals, and building positive brand recognition on a broad scale.

The AR Mural Creation Process (From Concept to Deployment)

You might be wondering: How do we actually create an augmented reality mural? Successful AR murals require a mix of artistic design, AR content development, and technical deployment. BrandXR's AR mural creation process is a well-established workflow that guides a project from the initial idea to a finished interactive experience. Here's an overview of the step-by-step process, which usually takes about 6–8 weeks from start to finish:

Conceptualization & Creative Brief (Weeks 1–2)

The process starts with ideation and planning. BrandXR's team works with the brand and any involved artists to brainstorm concepts that match your campaign goals, brand story, and audience. This includes selecting the mural theme and determining how the AR elements will enhance it – essentially, what story we want to tell, and what AR interactions will impress viewers. During conceptualization, the team collects audio/visual references and sketches out AR content ideas. The deliverable at this stage is a Creative Brief: a document that outlines the mural design direction, the AR experience concept, and key objectives/KPIs for the project. This ensures everyone – from your marketing stakeholders to the mural artist to the AR developers – is aligned before any production work begins.

AR Development & Asset Creation (Weeks 2–4)

Once the concept is approved, the main task of developing the AR experience begins. BrandXR's developers and designers produce the necessary digital assets, including 3D models, animations, video clips, sound effects, and interactive UI elements as needed for the experience. They create the AR interactions using a platform (BrandXR's Studio or other AR frameworks) so that the digital content can recognize and overlay on the mural image. During this phase, the team provides weekly updates and demos to the client, ensuring the project stays on schedule and the AR content aligns with the creative vision. By the end of development, you will have initial 3D assets and animations ready, along with a working prototype of the AR mural experience.

Testing, Revision & Polish (Weeks 4–5)

With a prototype ready, the next step is perfecting it. BrandXR provides test links or an app build so stakeholders can experience the AR mural firsthand on their devices. This testing phase is essential: the team gathers feedback on everything from animation timing and user interface prompts to overall performance (does the tracking lock correctly? Is the experience smooth?). Any necessary adjustments—whether to better align the AR content with the physical artwork or to improve the user experience—are made through iterative updates. The goal is to ensure the AR mural achieves the client's objectives and is intuitive and enjoyable for end-users. During this time, BrandXR also begins developing supporting marketing materials, such as "Scan Me" signage designs, instructional graphics, or social media teasers about the upcoming AR mural. The final deliverable at this stage is a polished prototype AR experience ready for launch.

Launch, Deployment & Support (Weeks 6–8)

Finally, it's time to go live. BrandXR manages the entire deployment: sending the final AR experience build to app stores or the WebAR platform and making sure the interactive content is accessible to the public. At the same time, the physical mural gets finished (painted on the wall or printed and installed) if it isn't already, and on-site signage with QR codes or instructions is set up. Once launched, the AR mural is officially out in the wild! During this period, BrandXR usually monitors the experience for any technical issues and offers ongoing support. They can also assist with onboarding users—such as providing a staff demo during an unveiling event or ensuring the QR code scanning process is smooth. After the launch, the project enters the measurement and maintenance phase, where engagement metrics are tracked and the experience is updated as needed (BrandXR provides support to fix bugs or refresh content as necessary). Thanks to the preparation in earlier stages, the launch often goes smoothly, adding a striking AR attraction to your campaign or location. As BrandXR mentions, even simple AR mural projects can be completed in as little as 2 weeks for quick activations, though larger murals with custom art and complex interactions take more time. The result of this multi-stage process is a fully realized AR mural experience—from initial concept on paper to an interactive display on a wall, all executed with professional precision.

This structured process guarantees that creating an AR mural isn't just guesswork. Each step is managed by experts – from creatives to animators to developers – under BrandXR's guidance, ensuring a smooth experience for the client. For marketers, this means you don't need to be an AR specialist to run an AR mural campaign; BrandXR's team offers a turnkey solution, where you provide input on creative and goals, and they handle the technical work. By following a clear roadmap and timeline, BrandXR has successfully delivered hundreds of AR murals, refining and improving the process with each project. The outcome is a proven formula for AR mural success – one that your brand can adopt to create engaging experiences that produce tangible results.

Why BrandXR is the #1 Choice for AR Murals

When it comes to implementing an Augmented Reality mural initiative, BrandXR stands out as the top partner for brands. The company has been a pioneer in this field from the very start – in fact, the team at BrandXR (led by CEO Moody Mattan) created the world's first augmented reality mural back in 2018, starting a trend that has since spread worldwide. Since that first AR-enhanced wall, BrandXR has created hundreds of AR mural experiences around the world for a diverse range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to city art projects. This experience is unmatched. BrandXR's early involvement and ongoing innovation mean they've already addressed the challenges that newcomers might face – such as image tracking calibration, content optimization, and user onboarding – making them experts in the craft of AR murals.

Beyond being first-movers, BrandXR has a proven record of success. They are recognized as "the leader in augmented reality solutions for out-of-home advertising, renowned for award-winning AR murals". The case studies discussed earlier (Verizon, Beyond Gravity, Bedrock) each highlight BrandXR's role in delivering high-impact AR experiences. Verizon's multi-city AR mural campaign? Powered by BrandXR's platform. The first AR mural festival in Detroit? Enabled by BrandXR's technology and support. Time and again, BrandXR has shown the ability to execute ambitious AR activations that combine creativity and reliability. Importantly, BrandXR isn't just a development shop – they invented a no-code AR platform (BrandXR Studio) that allows for quick creation and deployment of AR content. This platform approach means faster turnaround, easier updates, and the flexibility to scale AR campaigns without starting from scratch. It also lets BrandXR offer cost-effective solutions – many AR murals can be built more affordably and quickly than one might expect, thanks to reusable templates and efficient workflows developed by BrandXR over the years.

Another reason BrandXR is the top choice: end-to-end service. From the creative conceptualization—working with your marketing team or artists to imagine the experience—through to launch and post-launch analytics, BrandXR offers full support. Fortune 500 marketing leaders value this turnkey approach—they receive strategic input (making sure the AR mural aligns with your brand goals), technical execution, and ROI analysis. The BrandXR team understands both the artistic and marketing aspects of AR murals. They know how to craft an experience that's jaw-dropping for consumers and how to incorporate calls-to-action or data capture that matter to your business. This rare blend of artistic vision, technical skill, and marketing insight makes BrandXR an invaluable partner. As one AR marketing article pointed out, brands using AR have seen huge engagement increases—e.g., 280% higher brand recall and 200-400% performance improvements over traditional ads—and many of these results are driven by BrandXR's work. When you choose BrandXR, you're not just hiring developers; you're gaining a partner with deep AR expertise who will ensure your AR mural is captivating, reliable, and hits your KPIs.

Lastly, BrandXR's leadership in AR murals is demonstrated by the recognition and community they've built. Their projects have won awards (for example, AR murals delivered by BrandXR have earned Gold Telly Awards for immersive experiences), and they actively collaborate with renowned mural artists and organizations (such as the Electrifly art collective). BrandXR's CEO, Moody Mattan, and his team often promote the medium – from industry conferences to community festivals – which keeps them at the forefront of the latest AR features and creative ideas. This passion and advocacy for AR murals lead to better results for clients, as BrandXR constantly pushes the boundaries of what's possible.

In short, if your brand is considering an AR mural, BrandXR is the partner to trust. They offer unmatched experience, a strong creation platform, a portfolio of major successes, and a comprehensive service model designed for marketing leaders. With BrandXR, you can be sure that your augmented reality mural will not only impress your audience but also meet your strategic goals—whether it's increasing engagement, enhancing brand perception, or gathering data insights. They've done it many times before and are ready to do it for you.

Conclusion

Augmented Reality murals represent a groundbreaking way to connect with audiences by merging the scale and visual impact of murals with the interaction and measurability of digital media. They truly are the future of brand engagement. For CMOs and marketing directors looking for the next innovative campaign, AR murals offer an opportunity to create something memorable—something people won't forget, talk about, share, and seek out. They transform ordinary walls into destinations and turn impressions into active engagements. In a world where consumers crave experiences, an immersive, interactive mural could be the centerpiece of your next big marketing effort, public art project, or brand activation.

If you're ready to elevate your brand's presence with an Augmented Reality mural, now is the perfect time to act. BrandXR, the leading AR mural company, has the expertise to bring your vision to life and the experience to ensure it succeeds. Whether you want to attract foot traffic, generate viral buzz, or tell your story in a revolutionary way, BrandXR can guide you through every step—from a blank wall to a vibrant, tech-enabled experience. Don't let your brand stay static when it can leap into the mixed reality world and captivate today's tech-savvy audience.

Contact BrandXR today to discover how an AR mural can boost your marketing efforts. Bring your mural to life and let your audience literally step into your brand's story. The days of plain walls are gone – with BrandXR's help, your next mural could be an unforgettable augmented reality experience that keeps your company at the forefront. Reach out to BrandXR's team to start creating an AR mural that will make your brand stand out, engage your customers like never before, and attract attention both on the street and online. It's time to create an Augmented Reality mural and watch your brand art come alive. Let's make your mural come alive – contact BrandXR and lead the AR mural revolution.