On October 19, Snap Inc. announced the launch of Arcadia, a creative studio that will offer its clients the production and development of Augmented Reality advertising and experiences. The aim of Arcadia’s team, as stated on Snap’s newsroom, will be to allow companies to “develop new technology and deliver the most innovative, impactful and effective AR experiences.” The studio will be working on AR content production, as well as develop AR strategies for its clients. Arcadia will operate independently from Snap, allowing its customers to work on different platforms.
Since launching its iconic lenses in 2015, Snap has been active in AR for years. Among its most recent innovations, Snap announced its latest AR glasses in May. The company has also been steadily increasing its use of AR in the world of shopping, working with multiple brands. Just at the end of November, it announced a collaboration with, among others, Coca-Cola and Walmart in an AR market for Black Friday. Arcadia will collaborate with companies such as Verizon, WWE and Shake Shack.
Arcadia shows once again how Snap is at the forefront of this field. The company is clearly willing to invest time and resources in what seems to be the most promising among its many features, moving towards an increasingly innovative way of using AR in multiple fields. As mentioned by Jeff Miller, Global Head of Creative Strategy, “With the launch of Arcadia, Snap Inc. is further investing in an AR ecosystem […] that drives full-funnel results for businesses across the globe.”
Interactive Journalist at City, University of London. Originally from Switzerland, very passionate about travel and nature journalism.