UEA AR recruitment app

Client

UEA

Sector

Education, Arts and Culture

Tech

Augmented Reality (AR), Immersive Apps

Standing out at UCAS fairs with augmented reality

The University of East Anglia wanted to capture students’ attention at UCAS fairs and showcase both the university and the city of Norwich. We created an AR app that transformed their exhibition stand into an interactive experience. Designed for iPads already in use at events, the app helped UEA educate and engage prospective students in a fun, memorable way.

The challenge

Every year, UEA’s Higher Education advisers attend UCAS fairs across the country to attract new students. Despite the university’s strong academic reputation, many visitors had never heard of UEA or Norwich. Competing with hundreds of other institutions, UEA needed a way to stand out and tell their story within the confined space of an exhibition stand. The challenge was to create something innovative and visually engaging that reflected UEA’s forward-thinking nature, while giving prospective students a real sense of the university’s character and location. The experience also needed to work seamlessly alongside the team’s existing digital setup.

The process

We built an augmented reality app using the stand’s text lock-ups as image markers, designed for the iPads already collecting data. Once students entered their details, they could unlock hidden content simply by scanning the stand graphics. Each marker triggered different content linked to university life – such as research, accommodation or community – through a mix of 360º and 2D videos, images, 3D models and animations. We added depth and interactivity including hidden “easter egg” content for discovery. The app turned the stand into a lively, multi-layered experience that reflected UEA’s innovation and creativity.

The outcome

The AR app gave UEA a striking new way to connect with prospective students. By turning their stand into an interactive journey, it helped UEA capture the attention of prospective students at crowded UCAS fairs and communicate what makes both the university and Norwich unique.

A supporting analytics system tracked how users interacted with each topic, providing valuable insights into student interests and allowing UEA to refine future content. The app attracted attention at recruitment events and demonstrated how innovative technology can make a lasting impression on students discovering the university for the first time.

“Working with the Infinite Form team has been great. I’ve really felt like I’ve been in safe hands and that from beginning to end we’ve been looked after.”

Holly Mudie, Head of Brand and Content, University of East Anglia