Highlighting history with augmented reality
It took 125 years to make Underwriter’s Laboratory what it is today. It took us 125 days to capture that history in AR.
To help UL celebrate their 125 year anniversary, we created a unique AR app for their team that highlighted their storied history. Starting with a deep trove of archival images, we brought 10 key moments and initiatives of UL's past, present, and future to life. We used Cinema 4D for modeling each scene as a floating island, then animated each one in Unity3D as a connected network of islands, including 20 smaller islands highlighting lesser historical moments. All 30 islands are presented in Augmented Reality, arranged for viewing on a table-top or alternatively using a special water bottle presented to employees in celebration of the event.
Seeing UL in a new light
The response upon release was overwhelming, with over 1,498 downloads in the first few days of release. UL employees were delighted by the app, most of whom visited all 10 islands, with an average viewing time of over two minutes. In the end, we were able to provide an engaging AR experience that demonstrates how UL’s past helps shape its vision for the future.
The Results
- Over 1,498 downloads from Google Play and Apple App Store in first days of launch
- Users each viewed an average of 9.7 islands
- The average time on each island was 13s (over 2 minutes total in app)
