About This Project

In collaboration with Pernod Richard/The Absolut Group, SharpEnd, and Aircards, we introduced a groundbreaking way to personalize gift-giving with phygital (physical and digital) bottles. This project allows gift-givers to send personalized bottles of Absolut Vodka, each featuring a unique QR code.

Scanning the code leads the recipient to a customized virtual experience, which includes celebratory messages enhanced with voice notes, text messages, photos, emojis, and more, all brought to life through AR (augmented reality).

This innovative pilot program, currently being tested exclusively in Italy, is designed with multi-language and multi-location support to cater to a diverse global audience.

Impact

This project is set to revolutionize the gifting experience, combining the tactile joy of receiving a physical gift with the immersive and personal touch of a digital experience. Early feedback indicates high engagement, with recipients enjoying the personalized messages and the unique, interactive nature of the AR experience.

“Gifting is a deeply cherished tradition in Italy that symbolises the warmth of our connections. With Absolut's personalised phygital gifting bottles, we are excited to elevate this tradition into a memorable experience, blending innovation with heartfelt sentiment. By fostering a sense of togetherness through mixing different people and messages, Absolut strives to reshape the gifting landscape and create lasting memories that transcend the ordinary." - Letizia Invernizzi, Absolut Brand Manager, Pernord Ricard

Technical Details

Developed using 8th Wall, Three.js, and A-Frame.

AR and 3D Integration: Image tracking to detect the bottle, integration of 3D assets, animations, and various media elements (video textures, images, audio, and text).
Interactivity: Developed detailed interactivity features, including the ability for users to view and switch between multiple messages from different senders. This included handling different types of media inputs, such as text, images, and videos, and ensuring they were displayed correctly within the AR environment.
API Integration: Integrated a third-party API to process and display personalized content from the gift sender, ensuring seamless data handling and dynamic content delivery.
Multilingual Support: The experience supports multiple languages and it was built to simplify scalability.
Media Capture: Includes features for capturing video and images, and sharing on social media.
Responsive Design: Optimized for a seamless experience across devices.

Responsibilities

Lead Development: Led the development of the AR experience, focusing on asset optimization, integrating 3D assets, and animations.
Interactivity & UI Development: Developed the interactivity within the augmented reality experience, including the implementation of user interactions with different media elements and ensuring a smooth transition between them.
API Integration: Integrated a third-party API to manage and display dynamic content, providing a personalized experience for each recipient.
Cross-Platform Optimization: Ensured compatibility and optimal performance across various devices.

Press & Media Coverage

Absolut Vodka | Gifting Experience | 8th Wall