Graphic design students at University of the Pacific put classroom concepts into practice this semester, using augmented reality to create a seasonal branding campaign for an area business.

The project, run out of the Department of Art, Media, Performance and Design by Assistant Professor Zoya Laskowski, challenged students to design cohesive visual elements while exploring how augmented reality can enhance brand storytelling. Over the semester, students in the Arts 77: Branding and Identity Systems course produced two campaigns, one for Halloween and one for Christmas, for Groundstack Coffee, a locally owned business located on the nearby Miracle Mile shopping district in Stockton.

By scanning a QR code on the coffee cups, customers unlocked a digital animation, creating an interactive experience that highlighted the coffee brand’s story with holiday imagery.

The project allowed students to work directly with a client and apply what they have learned to a real brand to create engaging work while gaining hands-on learning experience.