Face Filters, Showcasing Designs and Connecting to your audience.

Ideas become more than just ideas when they are communicated and adopted.

Companies and brands can stand out and show who they are and what they do at the same time in a lot of really great ways. One thing I noticed this past year is the filters, and branding capabilities using AR and the Instagram platform simultaneously. Adidas did this successfully and launched a campaign where other digital creators and graphic designers could load their creations to the platform for other users to access. 

Filters, branded gifs from your company, and using various forms of media can help your audience connect to you. 

For example:

Let's say I am a new company that sells sunglasses. I could work with my graphic designer to create a filter, using our product, to allow users to test them before they buy, and a step further to help bring awareness to our brand. Interestingly enough, this mitigates issues with price points, shipping and does the campaign a solid with results and user-generated content the brand can use. The moment they follow you, they have access to these presets. *Remember to follow the account first*.

Speaking of great accounts to follow, Do you follow ICS Creative Agency? You should.

To create and upload your own, you can use Spark AR Studio, which is a tool by Facebook.

When this blog was initially published, only accepted creators could use this option, but now it is open for everyone. YAY! Currently, over 1 billion people are using AR effects, so this changes how we do marketing, how we tell stories in a big way. Spark AR  is a bit of a sophisticated tool, but it is fun, and I encourage you to take a look at it. If you have some design and visual experience, you will find navigating the platform more comfortable than most.

Biggest tips to think about before you start a design is to think about who it is for and then secondly, how will they use it, and lastly, how does your business use this to build brand awareness or brand loyalty.

-Think about your audience. You want this to be a mini gift for them. You should be conscious of branding, so where the logo is placed, does it make sense with how the user takes the photo or is it just a graphic overlay? Disney does this in a big way with movies and character polls.

Robin Williams Daughter

Here is an interesting fact, did you know that 80% of users on Instagram follow at least one brand? Use that piece of info to your advantage and look at how your customers can use your creativity to your advantage and better, to their own.

Stay tuned for part 2 coming February 2020.