Could your IT dept. drive student recruitment? SCAD trackable AR-driven catalog leads way for other universities

March 17, 2017

Savannah College of Art and Design has pioneered the use of augmented reality technology to create the first AR-driven college catalog produced and designed entirely by the university. With more than 85 trackable pages including the cover, over 150 digital assets, and more than 200 micro-interactions, users of SCAD’s catalog can view videos of students’ creative sessions, play student-designed video games, tour residence halls, learn about degree programs, profile real-world careers, chat live with admission staff members and watch videos of SCAD’s signature annual events.

“The SCAD catalog is a microcosm of SCAD expertise,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. “It’s inspired by our students – early adopters of the most leading edge technology, inventors of the next big thing.”

Through this personalized exploration, prospective students gain a firsthand experience of what awaits them at SCAD, including SCAD’s award-winning degree programs in fashion, film, animation, architecture, interior design and more, as well as real-world collaborations with companies that include Disney, Google, Pixar, BMW and NASA through the SCAD Collaborative Learning Center.

The launch represents another major step forward in SCAD’s evolution of the way students engage the college selection process. The AR catalog is SCAD’s second innovation in the technology reality space. In spring 2015, the university was the first to offer a virtual reality experience in acceptance letter packages. The packages contained customized Google cardboard VR goggles that enabled students to virtually visit SCAD’s four global locations. Within 12 months of introducing the virtual tours, the university saw a 26-percent increase in admission applications.

To experience the AR-trackable catalog, download SCAD’s mobile app via the Apple iTunes App Store or Google Play Store and simply hover a smartphone or tablet over its pages. SCAD secured a private license for the software, which is typically reserved for global tech companies.

The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in 43 majors across its locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Hong Kong; Lacoste, France; and online via SCAD eLearning. SCAD enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced professional-level technology, equipment and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications and collaborative projects with corporate partners.

In 2015, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD in the top four universities in the Americas and Europe. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni placement rate. In a study of Spring 2015 SCAD graduates, 98 percent were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. For more information, visit the official SCAD blog.