Video description: A woman uses the Chroma AR app on her phone to see the original colors of a stone sphinx statue on display in the gallery, and then to digitally wear the sphinx's headdress via augmented reality.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Chroma AR experience asks, “How do we know?” Designed by Bluecadet, the app's virtual "lenses" let users explore a 3D AR model of the sphinx, revealing details and stories through scientific analysis, art historical comparison, and visual observations. This engaging scavenger hunt guides users through processes Met researchers use to determine the sculpture's original appearance.
A richly-layered AR experience
We developed Chroma AR as a layered experience. Casual visitors can glean key takeaways within moments, while those people willing to spend more time with the app are rewarded with powerful stories. Working closely with the Met’s world-class team of curators, educators, and exhibit designers, we designed the app to tell these stories and enrich the visitor experience.
Chroma AR doesn’t compete with the in-person exhibition, and even turns some common pain points into memorable experiences. For example, Bluecadet developed signage inviting visitors to explore the app while they’re waiting in line to see the exhibit.
Bringing ancient Rome into modern homes
We designed the Chroma AR interface to be enjoyed at home, at the museum, or anywhere else. Users can virtually place the sphinx anywhere in any space, viewing it as it looks today, as it looked originally, and as it was originally installed—atop a 13-foot-high pillar.
In “Selfie” mode, users can virtually try on the sphinx’s reconstructed crown and easily snap a photo to share with friends and family.
AR that works anywhere
For years, one of the major impediments to widespread AR adoption has been the need for a native app. Forcing users to navigate to an app store and download an app before engaging with any content added extra steps and significant friction to the process.
WebAR addresses this problem head-on by providing high-quality AR experiences within the mobile browser. For Chroma AR, we used 8th Wall, Niantic’s WebAR toolkit to develop our application. 8th Wall provides a modern framework for using augmented reality in any web browser—even on mobile devices. This means that users can quickly and easily view high-quality models within their physical environment.
Awards & Press
Comm Arts
2023 Mobile / Interactive Featured Project
MuseumNext
Chroma AR featured in piece, “You Won’t Believe How the Met Brought an Ancient Sphinx to Life”
Explore More
Video description: People on the street scan a QR code on a poster to open the Interplay app on their phone. On the app they see a 3D version of the illustration on the poster, and can move and edit the different elements that compose the design to make their own poster. Overlaid text reads: "A collaborative augmented reality experience featuring Adana Tillman’s Akron-inspired art. Edit the composition, add to it, and make it your own. Share using #InterPlayAkron"
Video description: Two phone screens show videos of people modeling how the John Waters AR app has given them hair and makeup from John Waters' characters Tracy Turnblad and Divine overlaid onto their faces and heads.