How AR Powers NFT Projects

We are already aware of how augmented reality is making a difference in the industry when it comes to eCommerce. AR solutions pave the way for businesses to build brand loyalty by offering hyper-realistic experiences to customers. They shape the future not only in retail but also in many other emerging sectors. AR NFTs are one of the most up-to-date and functional of these solutions. In other words, they are one of the building blocks of the road to the promised Web3 future.

As technological developments have taught us for years, no technological solution rises alone. Whenever we talk about an innovative move, we deal with processes where at least two different technologies work in harmony. This is also what happened with AR NFTs.

So let us explain how these two powerful technologies come together and the potential they hold for the future.

What is an “AR NFT”?

AR NFTs are a form of digital ownership in which the interactive visualization power of augmented reality is also involved. Until today, we have always talked about how to bring physical objects into the digital realm. Now, our ties with the digital world have become so tight that we are at the point where we need to transfer our possessions there to the real world. And when it comes to bringing our digital assets to our daily lives, AR NFTs are the number one solution.

We know that NFTs are identifiers that make digital assets unique and qualify them as “one-of-a-kind”. NFT technology, which assigns ownership to rare products such as digital artworks and collectibles, is now merging with AR to move into the third dimension. While regular NFTs give ownership to objects that appeal to the 2D world, such as images, videos, and music, AR NFTs allow digital objects to be visualized in different ways. Adding context to any work also contributes to the rate at which users engage with what they see. It's like bringing your favorite artist's work to the living room of your home and being able to experience it on your own terms. You can create a completely different experience for yourself through AR NFTs by adding them with various visual or sound effects.

Moreover, AR NFTs, which can be used in many areas such as fashion, art, and advertising, can provide users with an enhanced service through AR-enabled websites and applications.

AR NFTs: Yesterday, today, tomorrow

In order for an innovation to excite its potential users, it must be well explained how, why and for what it is used. NFTs, which came to the fore, especially with the success of the metaverse, have already started to touch different sectors with their newest form. We are convinced that the concepts of augmented reality and virtual reality do not belong only to niche areas such as the gaming industry.

Deepening the meaning of any digital artwork, AR NFTs work to enrich our physical world, where we are adding a new dimension. So let's take a look at examples of AR NFTs from different industries and better explain what we are talking about.

AR NFTs in Fashion

Fashion = visuality, visuality = fashion. With a simple mathematical equation, we can say that the whole existence of fashion is based on aesthetic and visual pleasure. Otherwise, every year's popular colors, eye-catching cuts, and trendy models would float meaninglessly. We've seen how successful in-game NFTs are in collaboration with brands like Louis Vuitton and Burberry. Bringing luxury to its peak, AR NFTs can be transferred to real life, and it seems to open a new door in the fashion industry.

Sportswear brand Asics held an auction for its NFT collection, called Asics Sunset Red NFT. Bidders who win the auction will also receive digitally available 3D versions of the shoes they purchased. Users will have the opportunity to view these models in real life via any AR-supported application they prefer. If you're buying a running shoe, is your avatar in the metaverse missing the same opportunity?

RTFKT, whose name we often mention, is changing the metaverse fashion scene by using Snapchat. You don't need to close your eyes to imagine how a digital shoe you bought will look on your feet, on the contrary, you just need to open your eyes and look at your smartphone's camera thanks to virtual try-on technology.

Metajacket, an AR NFT also designed by RTFKT, was sold for $57,323 in a 24-hour auction.

NFT marketplace The Dematerialized is currently hosting an NFT sale for Soulland, a Copenhagen-based menswear brand. Prices for NFTs of pink floral suits vary depending on what benefit the buyer wishes to receive from the NFT. Users also gain access to a USDZ file that displays the outfit in AR in a user's camera app when opened on iOS devices after purchasing the NFTs.

AR NFTs in Art

We think the most understandable and perhaps the most fascinating part is the relationship between AR NFTs and art. We knew that we could gain ownership of every aesthetic and design detail we witnessed through NFTs. Now, with the inclusion of AR in the game, we are able to obtain different alternatives to consume the content we have. Today, you can bring a painting you admire to your bedroom and watch it under a red light while your favorite song is playing in the background. The possibilities to consume art are endless.

Moreover, not only the way the content is consumed but also the blurring of the boundaries between the artist and the supporters becomes real with AR NFTs. While making more accessible art increases the artist's fan base, artists with increased visibility can generate income without the need of any intermediaries such as an auction house.

When talking about the connection between AR NFTs and art, one of the most popular works is Pascal Boyart's street painting crowning the Yellow Vest protests. Although the French authorities quickly covered the physical artifact, the NFT version still lives on.

Italian painter Sandro Botticelli's famous work, Young Man Holding A Roundel, was viewable on Instagram via an AR filter before it was put up for sale at Sotheby's Auction House.

AR NFTs and Face Filters

Face filters were already fun before the pandemic. The interactive filters that became widespread created not only visual entertainment but also spaces where we could share our creativity with our friends. The fact that the retail industry took a completely different shape with the pandemic allowed the face filters to extend far beyond the meaning they carry with themselves. Our fun filters are now in the hands of digital marketing departments.

According to a report from the Financial Times, Snap is working on artists displaying their digital collections as AR filters on Snapchat. The report also states that Snap does not plan to receive any money from creators to showcase their digital collections, just like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The main focus of the company is on increasing artist revenues.

The relationship of AR NFTs with filters is not only for the benefit of the marketing industry. Artists can also evaluate this area in line with their own creativity. Marc-O-Matic would be a good example of this. Inspired by traditional art, the artist combines his works under the umbrella of 3D animation and AR. An excellent combination!

Don’t be late to jump on this latest AR NFT trend

We mentioned the relationship of AR NFTs with different sectors with various examples. You can increase your sales or create a new income model for yourself by taking advantage of the combination of advanced AR technology with NFT. Moreover, providing interactive experiences to users to increase brand loyalty is among the benefits you can get from AR NFTs.

Adapting to our new “phygital” lives will continue to be a hot topic in the near future. As artlabs, we are ready to offer you this service, you can get more information by contacting our professional team today.