THOUGHTS ON MICROSOFT IGNITE 2021

Kunal Patel • March 5, 2021

The above video and transcript is our educated opinions on the Microsoft Ignite conference and the current state of Microsoft XR and where they're headed.

Video Transcript

Kunal: [00:00:00] Hi, I'm Kunal Patel, CTO co-founder of BrandXR an augmented reality creation platform.

Dave: [00:00:06] So yesterday you were sitting there with your Oculus on, you're like, Hey, film me and when I asked you what it was about, you told me that you were entering into a virtual conference put on by Microsoft and I think you said it was altspace.

Kunal: [00:00:19] Yeah, they're they, Microsoft bought a VR platform called Altspace VR for virtual events. And so it was a platform that existed beforehand. Microsoft bought it and now they're, adding more firepower to it. They're adding more Microsoft technologies to it and we're still in COVID times, like they're using it to do their big presentations.

Dave: [00:00:38] So what was this presentation like? What was the idea of what this was supposed to be about?

Kunal: [00:00:43] Their keynote was supposed to be about XR. It was supposed to be about being together virtually even when you can't be there in person.

So it made sense that they would do this where you're a virtual avatar and you're in a virtual lobby and you're in a virtual [00:01:00] presentation area and auditorium. And so you walk around and other avatars, which are, other people. So it was an interesting experience, they're still in this realm of everybody's like a cartoon character.

So it's not quite, the same as being there in person, but you do get the sense of I'm in a big room. I'm like, Whoa, there's a giant, whale or giant squid that's floating around. When they're talking about like some Oceanic Research So I think there was there's value in, in presenting in that way you could, in a way you can do that in real life, in real life, maybe it's real people and things, but like in this world you could do impossible things

Dave: [00:01:37] Just out of curiosity, when you were in that virtual conference, if you chose to meet someone in their avatar, do you have the option to talk to them?

Kunal: [00:01:48] you can go up to a person and you can then I guess, request a chat with them. And then if they want to chat with you, you can chat back and forth and you can do it with audio or [00:02:00] without audio. And they've been working and some things like even to create like virtual world rules for engaging with people.

There's some people out there. That they create a bubble around themselves. Like you can't really enter their space, you can't really bother them. And then in other cases, they're like, Hey, my microphone is open, its on, I'm just talking to anybody who's near me can hear me.

So they're trying to solve like some real world situations and then some virtual world situations in this platform,

Dave: [00:02:32] Now there's a few companies that are going into this XR realm. You have Oculus from Facebook that has really been pushing, especially from a budget standpoint, really trying to get VR into everyone's home.

You have Apple that has been teased with glass. You have you have Microsoft, you have, a few others that are pushing this and it seems like it's picking up momentum.

Why does Microsoft care [00:03:00] about XR?

Kunal: [00:03:01] So I think there's multiple reasons they care about XR on one front, I think it's because they were, they had an Epic fail around 2007, 2008.

Like they chose to be arrogant and said that nobody wants to use an iPhone and they were late to the party in terms of the smartphone game. They didn't develop that fast enough. They didn't develop the hardware fast enough and people already decided, hey, I'm going to use an iPhone or I'm going to use an Android. And then basically the entire smartphone Platform Wars were just won by Apple and Google. And Microsoft just became like a small fraction. I don't think they even had 2% of the marketplace and they gave up on it and it's affected almost every single one of their products since.

They're no longer, the main person at the table.

They have to, work with Apple. They have to work with Google. They can't set the terms [00:04:00] anymore and that put Microsoft in a really weird position where they're not the platform of choice of consumers, Microsoft doesn't want that to happen again and I think that XR augmented and virtual reality is like that next platform that people are gonna interact with each other and with data and with content.

And if they get into it now, they won't have to play second fiddle or third fiddle in anymore. Like they, they can control the platform, they can control their destiny, they can control their products.

And just have a better shot at like business.

Dave: [00:04:37] You talk about how that they didn't care about the consumer and that backfired on them. They missed that boat is, do you see that this is the shift that they're gonna try to captain that XR is the realm where they see the opportunity to take that leap forward and get back into the consumer market.

Kunal: [00:04:57] I think XR is going to be [00:05:00] almost like this connective tissue that connects all of their different businesses. Like Microsoft is such a monster in terms of all the things they do. Like they have. Their enterprise business that they work with hospitals and manufacturing and e-commerce, they have accounting systems. They have Microsoft dynamics. Azure, which is their cloud data center they have Xbox video games, for just everybody. They have surface computers, their brand of computers. XR is going to be that connective tissue with every single one of their businesses.

And yeah, I think they want to get back in the consumer world and realm. And somehow they're going to do it through XR. And so maybe there's a flavor that would work for Xbox gamers. Maybe there's a flavor that's going to work for just. Professionals and students with surface, and maybe there's a version or a flavor with HoloLens and the enterprise.

Dave: [00:05:58] The Hololens is [00:06:00] $3,500. If their goal is to jump back into the consumer market, I just can't see that being, even if it was clearly better. You have the Oculus at $300, which after people experience it, oftentimes they go, how much is this? They find out at 300 and they're just blown away that it's affordable, but to go, okay, what's the next level up?

You can start looking at the PSVR and you can start looking at these different, but they have a $3,500 lens. Yeah. So w what do you see them? Do you see them creating a different tiered system from enterprise to consumer?

Kunal: [00:06:35] Yeah I think they're doing the absolute opposite of what magic leap was trying to do.

I think magic leap is trying to go consumer first and totally failed. Microsoft decided let's start with the enterprise. Let's start with these big businesses where we can have like long engagement periods. We can record all this data. We can see how people are using it. If there's issues, it's not that big of a deal.

[00:07:00] Regular consumers, regular Joes and Janes are very fickle, very opinionated. All it takes is one blogger to go this is the worst thing in the world. Microsoft didn't need to deal with all that noise. So they're using a Hololens as really like their testing lab for how XR should work.

And when they have that stuff polished I feel like they're going to release something that's cheaper, smaller, easier sexier that people can use. And, they failed the smartphone, platform Wars. They don't really have too many second chances at trying to launch into a new platform for consumers. So they gotta do it.

Dave: [00:07:43] Okay. Let's talk about this experience. The conference was the ignite conference. Talk to me what was it like?

Kunal: [00:07:50] Yeah, so definitely the energy is totally different than if you go to the real one where there's like all these people. But I think it was [00:08:00] interesting. I used an Oculus quest headset that was running the Microsoft Altspace VR app to get into this.

So I didn't need to use a Hololens. I didn't use to use a windows mixed reality headset, VR headset. So that, that was convenient and that was good. When I went in it was nice to see other people, so to speak, even though they were cartoons and I was a cartoon myself, I was a different avatar.

And when we walked in, I saw an entire auditorium. Where I saw things floating above me, or I saw a video in front of me. I saw people chit-chatting I saw somebody from Microsoft chatting with somebody else who was from Montreal. And then another person who happened to be from London. And so all of these people are right there, even though they're virtually, they look like, actual physical beings in front of me and I could see them chatting with each other because I was close enough.

So that part of it was like this is like how it is in real life. So I thought that was [00:09:00] impressive, definitely like over time, I think they can make the graphics and everything look better just like a video game.

Yeah. But yeah, I thought it was pretty good.

Dave: [00:09:07] So tell me who presented, what was like, what were some of your takeaways from what stood out the most? That they came out to talk about.

Kunal: [00:09:15] So the keynote was primarily all about XR and Microsoft has so many business lines, they had Satya Nadella, their CEO talk about the importance of mixed reality and an XR and how you have, a surgeon from Mount Sinai hospital coaching, a surgeon in Uganda, in Africa to do surgery using the HoloLens.

And then he talked about a manufacturing company that's using it to train future employees. Somebody that had been with the company for 30 years was able to build a whole training program for new hires in these, had to put on the HoloLens and he could see what the expert wanted them to see.

And then they even had Hey, you can pay, you [00:10:00] can play like Pokemon. On this as well. So that's like very consumer, but they were showing all of these different things that are possible. And it told me that this is going to be important to Microsoft across the board and they're building experiences for every type of person.

So yeah, they, they had all their different business lines talking about it.

Dave: [00:10:22] Now they introduced something called Microsoft mesh.

Kunal: [00:10:25] Yeah.

Dave: [00:10:26] What is Microsoft mesh?

Kunal: [00:10:28] I'm not sure exactly, they talked about it. I can only speculate a little bit, in basic they, they said that, Hey, this is a new application where you can share 3d models with each other. You can communicate with another person in 3d.

To me, it seemed like a stepping stone to the next version of Microsoft teams. So turning the pandemic like Microsoft teams took over like wildfire. It's a really similar to Slack or other chat-based [00:11:00] tools like discord. But I think Microsoft mesh is almost like a preview of the future version of teams.

Where, I'm myself. I see a video of someone else. I see a 3d hologram of another person. And then all three of us are looking at the same 3d model or experience, or maybe there's a digital whiteboard where we can use things together. I think it's just the future 3d version of Microsoft teams. It's their stepping stone.

Dave: [00:11:31] Do you see any faults with what they're doing?

Kunal: [00:11:34] I think it's a huge juggling act that they're trying to pull off and, they are definitely having to play this long game of trying to come back, from losing the smartphone war. Almost all of their consumer type of products are failing.

They had a smart band that failed. They had ear pods. Nobody bought them. They have headphones that look cool, but I don't think anybody's buying them it's cause like it doesn't interface with your smartphone [00:12:00] very easily as maybe other ones do. So I, I think that there is a lot going on and they're just hoping.

That it all comes together and that consumers will see that maybe there's a sexy product and we'll give them another shot.

There's a chance that if competitors like Apple or Google come out with something, maybe people are too ingrained with their current smartphone ecosystems to really just make the leap onto Microsoft.

So I want to say they need to be doing. Something way more consumer right now to get in.

Dave: [00:12:42] And is that how you think they're going to compete? Is that their best solution to compete in this XR market?

Kunal: [00:12:49] I think they have to, you got to take a look at what they're doing. They tried to buy TikTok and then they tried to buy Pinterest and these are super consumer [00:13:00] focused like platforms. Like, why would they do that?

On one hand, they're working with hospitals and this, they're working with NASA, they're working with manufacturing, they're working with like automobile manufacturers, very enterprise stuff that Microsoft's amazing at and really great at and has great relationships with and they'll win that.

But they're doing extremely like. Consumer focused movements. They didn't buy TikTok. They didn't win in that. I think the Pinterest deal didn't happen, but you don't just decide, Hey, I'm going to blow $50 billion just like that, on a random Tuesday.

I think there's some strategy going on here where they have the money to spend and they're going to try to get into. Consumers' lives in a very like ingrained way. And that has to be there way back into consumer's like everyday lives. And that's how that maybe they can introduce their XR platforms, whether it's, glasses like I'm [00:14:00] wearing right now that aren't 3,500 bucks, like the Hololens. They've got to have a critical part of my life.

Dave: [00:14:04] You've used words like. They hope. I believe that they hope that this will happen. And you've used your own words in saying, I think this will happen.

Yeah. So outside of them presenting vision, did they give any clear indication of the next step and when to expect it?

Kunal: [00:14:26] I don't think so. I think he didn't say anything on the, yeah.

Right now the HoloLens is available to purchase. If you got 3,500 bucks and it's been tough to actually and it's been selling out and then there's different versions that they're releasing for more enterprise use cases. There's a military version of this. There's a manufacturing, focused version.

They didn't make any hardware announcements, and anytime you ask them that kind of question you saw like an immediate, like shift of we're not talking about hardware.

Dave: [00:14:54] Why do you think that is?

Kunal: [00:14:55] Cause they're probably working on hardware and they don't want to have their thunder, [00:15:00] stolen.

By what they're not saying, and by what they're trying to redirect from, it probably is telling you that they're working on some consumer level hardware for XR. So I think that's something just to keep your eyes on and they're probably playing chess against Facebook and Apple and Google on when to release it when to announce it.

When is that right moment? They showed a lot of examples of what XR can be, can be but there was no set date. For a lot of this stuff is just coming soon. So I think part of it is let's show you this, let's hear what the chatter is like, and then we'll figure out when we now let users use Microsoft mesh.

Let's see how the current install base of HoloLens users use this. And Maybe they'll save it for their next conference. I think that's Microsoft build so I think they're using this to see how the people chit chat with each other before they make their moves

Dave: [00:15:57] on a scale of one to 10, 10 being [00:16:00] absolute trust.

Do you believe Microsoft? Where would you put your trust that Microsoft is going to deliver and that XR and the HoloLens and their mesh. Out of all of that, that they are going to deliver. And this is going to bring Microsoft back front and center and put them at the same innovative level as Apple and Google.

Kunal: [00:16:22] I'm going to say an eight.

Dave: [00:16:25] That's pretty good.

Kunal: [00:16:25] Yeah. I, cause I mean like this is not been like a two year initiative. This has been almost like a 10 year plan on how do we come back?

And they've had to take baby steps in lots of different fronts to make this happen. They focused in on their cloud business Azure. So now, like they have, I think it's the number two data center behind AWS from Amazon. And, they're winning business there. They released a new console with Xbox.

There. Released, like now two versions of the [00:17:00] HoloLens and they're winning enterprise business there.

So they're gaining data and there are big data company. They are looking at how people are using it. When are they using it? They're learning a lot. So I don't think you do 10 years of activities and put out tens of billions of dollars worth of. R&D and products just to fail in the end. So I think almost every part of Microsoft is like trying to converge at a certain point.

And that's where everything's moving.

Even their e-commerce software dynamics. These are like million dollar agreements that they signed with like big e-commerce players. And even that is like working towards XR. And then they talk about like gamers and, things with Pokemon and that using XR.

And then they have Minecraft that they show as examples with the HoloLens, no kid is going to get, be able to get a 3,500 all HoloLens to play [00:18:00] Minecraft or Pokemon. I think they're trying to converge, at that right moment. I would say like they're playing a ten-year game of chess with really deep pockets.

So I believe they're going to do it.

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AR Mirrors for Trade Shows and Events: Engagement Metrics that Matter

By Moody Mattan • April 9, 2025

In today's business world, brands are always looking for exciting ways to grab attention and craft unforgettable experiences at trade shows and corporate events. One standout tool making waves in event marketing is Augmented Reality (AR) mirrors. They offer a fantastic mix of advanced technology and engaging interaction, taking the experience beyond what traditional displays can achieve match. As marketing leaders allocate substantial budgets to advanced technologies, understanding which metrics are truly important becomes essential for measuring ROI and justifying expenses. This article examines the key engagement metrics that should be monitored when deploying AR mirrors at your next major event. What Are AR Mirrors and Why Should Marketers Care? AR mirrors merge digital displays, camera technology, and advanced software to create interactive experiences where attendees see their reflections alongside superimposed digital elements. Unlike traditional AR applications that depend on smartphones or headsets, AR mirrors offer a communal and accessible experience without requiring special equipment from participants. For brands, these installations represent a significant advancement from traditional booth attractions: They create shareable, branded moments without the friction of app downloads They generate data-rich interactions that can be measured and analyzed They accommodate multiple participants simultaneously, increasing engagement efficiency They produce professional-quality content that attendees actively want to share Key Engagement Metrics for AR Mirror Deployments 1. Participation Rate What it measures: The percentage of booth visitors who engage with your AR mirror experience. Why it matters: A low participation rate may indicate positioning issues, unclear signage, or a failure to communicate the value proposition clearly enough to draw people in. Industry benchmark: Top-performing AR mirror installations achieve 65-80% participation among booth visitors, compared to 30-40% for traditional interactive displays. How to improve it: Position your AR mirror in high-traffic areas with clear sightlines. Train staff to actively invite and guide visitors to the experience. Create clear, compelling signage that communicates the experience in 5 words or less. 2. Session Duration What it measures: The average time users spend actively engaging with the AR mirror experience. Why it matters: Longer sessions typically suggest increased engagement and offer greater chances for brand messaging to be recognized. They also generate natural opportunities for sales representatives to start conversations. Industry benchmark: The typical AR mirror session lasts between 2 to 4 minutes, which is significantly longer than the 20 to 30-second average for traditional booth interactions. How to improve it: Develop multi-stage experiences that progress over time. Integrate gamification elements or personalization options to promote deeper exploration. Structure the user flow to naturally enhance engagement through multiple interactions. 3. Content Sharing Rate What it measures: The percentage of participants who share their AR content on social media or via email. Why it matters: Each share extends your brand reach beyond the confines of the event and creates authentic, peer-to-peer endorsement of your brand experience. Industry benchmark: Well-designed AR mirror experiences achieve 50-60% content sharing rates, compared to 5-10% for traditional photo booths. How to improve it: Ensure the generated content is visually striking and unique. Simplify the sharing process to a single tap or email entry. Add branded elements that are subtle but recognizable. Incorporate real-time editing options that empower users to perfect their content before sharing. 4. Data Capture Rate What it measures: The percentage of participants who provide contact information during the experience. Why it matters: Converting anonymous interactions into identifiable leads is essential for post-event follow-up and calculating true ROI. Industry benchmark: Optimized AR mirror experiences achieve 70-85% data capture rates when value exchange is clearly communicated. How to improve it: Create a clear value exchange (e.g., "Share your email to receive your AR experience video"). Integrate data capture seamlessly into the user flow rather than adding it as an afterthought. Use progressive profiling to gather the most critical information first.

AR Murals in Historic Preservation: Bringing the Past to Life

By Moody Mattan • April 8, 2025

At the intersection of cutting-edge technology and historical conservation lies a powerful new tool for cultural storytelling: augmented reality (AR) murals. These innovative digital overlays are revolutionizing how communities connect with their heritage, offering immersive experiences that transform static historical sites into dynamic, interactive journeys through time. For city planners, public art administrators, education leaders, and museum directors, AR murals represent not just a technological novelty but a transformative approach to historic preservation that engages diverse audiences while safeguarding architectural integrity. The Evolution of Public History: From Plaques to Immersive Experiences Historically, commemorating significant sites relied primarily on physical markers—bronze plaques, interpretive signs, or traditional murals. While these conventional approaches have merit, they face inherent limitations in space, accessibility, and engagement potential, especially for younger generations accustomed to interactive media. Traditional preservation methods often present a static narrative that fails to capture the multidimensional stories behind historical places. Augmented reality changes this paradigm entirely. By layering digital content over physical spaces through smartphones or AR glasses, these installations create what preservation technologist Sarah Martinez calls "a palimpsest of history—where multiple eras can coexist in a single viewing experience." This technological approach allows visitors to witness how streets, buildings, and communities have transformed over decades or centuries without physically altering historic structures. How AR Murals Work: Technology in Service of Heritage AR murals function through a combination of sophisticated technologies working seamlessly together: Geospatial Anchoring : AR experiences are precisely mapped to physical locations using GPS and visual positioning systems. 3D Modeling : Historical buildings, streets, and figures are recreated through detailed digital models. Interactive Storytelling : Narration, historical photographs, and archival documents are integrated into the experience. Accessibility Features : Multiple languages, audio descriptions, and customizable interfaces ensure broad accessibility. When a visitor approaches a designated site, they can easily open a dedicated app on their mobile device or wear AR-enabled glasses. The screen reveals historical overlays on the contemporary environment—perhaps illustrating a street as it appeared in 1920, complete with period-appropriate vehicles and pedestrians. Users can interact with these elements, accessing deeper content or switching between different historical periods. "What makes AR murals particularly valuable is their non-invasive nature," explains Dr. Marcus Jimenez, Director of Digital Innovation at the National Historic Preservation Trust. "Unlike physical alterations that might compromise a building's historical integrity, these digital interventions leave no permanent mark while dramatically enhancing educational impact."

AR Murals for Retail: Driving Foot Traffic and In-store Conversions

By Moody Mattan • April 7, 2025

In today's bustling retail scene, marketing executives are on the lookout for exciting and creative strategies to draw customers into their physical stores and turn casual browsing into delightful purchases. Augmented reality (AR) murals have become fantastic tools for brands eager to craft immersive and shareable experiences that not only increase foot traffic but also enhance in-store conversion rates. This innovative technology is transforming standard retail spaces into vibrant, interactive destinations that engage customers in meaningful ways, crafting unforgettable brand moments that lead to real results for the business results. The Evolution of Retail Experiences The retail industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. E-commerce growth has put unprecedented pressure on brick-and-mortar locations, compelling marketing leaders to reimagine the physical shopping experience. Today's consumers expect more than just product availability—they seek experiences that seamlessly blend digital innovation with tangible interactions. According to McKinsey research, experiential retail concepts generate 1.5 to 2.2 times more revenue per square foot than traditional retail models. This seismic shift has created an environment where AR murals and similar immersive technologies are no longer experimental—they are becoming essential components of forward-thinking retail strategy. What Are AR Murals? AR murals merge physical artwork with digital overlays that customers can access through their smartphones or tablets. Unlike traditional store displays, these installations create multi-layered experiences that unfold when viewed through an AR-enabled device. These murals typically consist of: A visually striking physical mural or wall installation that stands alone as compelling artwork Digital content that appears when customers scan the mural using a retailer's app or QR code Interactive elements that respond to customer engagement, often incorporating product information, games, social sharing capabilities, or exclusive offers The most effective AR murals serve dual purposes: they enhance the retail environment's aesthetic appeal while simultaneously functioning as powerful conversion tools. The Business Case for AR Murals in Retail For Fortune 1000 marketing executives weighing technology investments, AR murals present a compelling business case with measurable returns: Driving Foot Traffic AR murals create destination-worthy experiences that attract customers specifically seeking to engage with the installation: Social Media Amplification : AR experiences are highly shareable, generating organic social media content that extends reach beyond paid advertising efforts. Data from Snapchat shows AR experiences drive 94% higher conversion rates than standard ads. Press Coverage and Earned Media : Innovative AR installations often generate media coverage, offering valuable third-party endorsement and increasing market awareness—especially when launched with strategic timing or connected to cultural moments. Location-Based Promotion : AR murals can be promoted through geofenced advertising, drawing nearby mobile users into stores with the promise of a unique digital experience. Recent implementations by leading retailers illustrate the traffic-driving potential of these installations. When luxury retailer Burberry unveiled AR-enabled murals in key global locations, they reported a 40% increase in store visits from younger demographics—a notoriously challenging segment to attract to physical retail. Increasing In-Store Conversions Beyond attracting customers, AR murals significantly impact conversion metrics: Extended Dwell Time : Customers engaging with AR installations spend an average of 7.5 minutes longer in-store than non-engaged visitors. This extended engagement window creates additional opportunities for product discovery and purchase consideration. Personalized Product Interactions : Advanced AR murals can recognize individual users and recommend products based on previous purchases or expressed preferences, creating highly personalized shopping journeys. Gamification of Shopping : AR murals frequently incorporate game elements that incentivize specific customer behaviors, from exploring different store sections to trying on products virtually. Seamless Path to Purchase : The most effective implementations create frictionless connections between AR engagement and purchase opportunities through integrated mobile checkout or guided pathways to relevant products. A 2023 study by Deloitte found that retailers implementing AR experiences saw an average 19% increase in conversion rates and a 27% increase in average transaction value compared to control stores without such technology.

How to Hire the Best Mural Artist: Tips and Considerations

By Moody Mattan • April 4, 2025

Murals have become increasingly popular additions to both residential and commercial spaces. A well-executed mural can transform a bland wall into a captivating focal point, tell your brand's story, or simply bring joy to those who view it. However, finding and hiring the right mural artist for your specific project can be challenging. This comprehensive guide will walk you through hiring the best mural artist for your needs, ensuring your vision comes to life exactly as you imagined. Understanding the Value of Professional Mural Artists Before diving into the hiring process, it is essential to understand what distinguishes professional mural artists from amateur painters or general contractors. Professional mural artists possess specialized skills, experience, and a creative vision that can transform your project from ordinary to extraordinary. Technical Expertise Professional mural artists possess technical skills honed through years of practice and formal training. They understand color theory, composition, perspective, and scale—all essential elements in creating artwork on large surfaces. Their expertise ensures that your mural will appear proportionate and visually appealing, regardless of the viewing angle or distance. Durability and Longevity Experienced mural artists understand which materials and techniques will ensure that your mural endures over time. They choose suitable paints for both indoor and outdoor applications, thoroughly prepare surfaces, and apply protective coatings when needed. This expertise ensures that your investment remains vibrant and intact for years. Creative Problem-Solving Every wall presents unique challenges—unusual dimensions, architectural features, lighting conditions, or surface textures. Professional mural artists can adapt their designs to work with (rather than against) these elements, turning potential obstacles into creative opportunities. Defining Your Mural Project Goals Before you begin your search for the perfect mural artist, clearly define your goals for the project. Purpose of the Mural Consider the primary function of your mural: Is it meant to reinforce your brand identity? Will it serve as a landmark or wayfinding tool? Is it purely decorative or meant to evoke specific emotions? Does it need to communicate a particular message or story? Style Preferences Murals come in countless styles, ranging from photorealistic to abstract, illustrative to typographic. Explore various mural styles and pinpoint the ones that resonate with your vision. Having examples of styles you appreciate will help convey your expectations to potential collaborators artists. Budget Considerations Mural costs vary widely based on factors like size, complexity, location, and artist experience. Establishing a realistic budget range early in the process will help you find artists who can work within your financial parameters. Timeline Requirements Quality murals take time to plan and execute. Consider your timing needs: Do you need the mural completed by a specific date (e.g., before a grand opening)? Are you flexible on timing to accommodate a sought-after artist's schedule? Will weather conditions affect your timeline for outdoor murals?

Top 10 Mural Trends Shaping Public Art in 2025

By Moody Mattan • April 3, 2025

In the evolving landscape of urban aesthetics, public murals continue to shift from simple decorative elements into powerful vehicles for storytelling, community engagement, and brand messaging. As we progress through 2025, the convergence of technology, sustainability, and social consciousness is transforming how we conceptualize, create, and engage with public art. Whether you are a muralist, a public art commissioner, an OOH advertising executive, or a marketing leader seeking innovative brand expression, grasping the current trends can help you maximize the impact of your next mural project. 1. Interactive and Immersive Augmented Reality Murals Perhaps the most exciting development in the mural space is the mainstream adoption of augmented reality (AR) integration. Static walls are now portals to dynamic digital experiences, creating multilayered storytelling opportunities that engage viewers on both physical and virtual planes. Augmented Reality (AR) murals are revolutionizing public engagement by allowing viewers to point their smartphones at a mural and witness its transformation—characters move, narratives unfold, and additional content emerges. This technology has evolved significantly in recent months, with advancements in spatial anchoring that ensure AR elements stay perfectly aligned with the physical artwork, regardless of viewing angle or distance. For brands and marketers, AR murals provide unprecedented metrics and engagement data, offering insights into how audiences interact with the artwork. Companies such as PepsiCo and Nike have leveraged this technology to create memorable campaigns that enhance the impact of their OOH investments while collecting valuable consumer interaction data. Key developments in this space include: Persistent AR experiences that multiple users can access simultaneously Geofenced content that changes based on time of day or special events Interactive elements that respond to viewer gestures or social media actions Integration with social platforms allowing for instant content sharing Payments built directly into AR experiences to easily one-click buy Viewing AR Murals through new AR glasses from Meta and Snapchat 2. Projection Mapping and Dynamic Murals While traditional painted murals remain predominant, projection mapping technology has developed to enable dynamic, changing murals that transform throughout the day or in response to various inputs. These "living walls" preserve the scale and public nature of murals while introducing temporal dimensions that static paintings cannot achieve. Recent advances in projection technology have made these installations more energy-efficient and visible even in daylight conditions. Sony and Epson have developed specialized projectors specifically for public art applications, enabling longer-term installations without excessive power consumption. Noteworthy applications include: Seasonal narrative shifts that evolve throughout the year Weather-responsive projections that change based on local conditions Traffic or noise-responsive installations that reflect urban rhythms Scheduled transformations that create appointment viewing experiences These dynamic murals are particularly effective for areas with high repeat traffic, as they provide new experiences for regular viewers.