Augmented reality turns packaging into a powerful communication channel between a brand and its customer. It makes a product interactive, informative, and engaging.
Did you know that DEVAR is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025? For the past decade, we’ve been working with AR technology since its earliest days and have sold around 14 million AR-powered products. In this article, we’ve collected 40 ideas on how to use AR for one of our favorite products (after books, of course): packaging. Let’s dive in!
Universal & Marketing Ideas
- AR contests and challenges
Launch interactive games and challenges directly on your packaging. Customers will engage more actively with your brand. - Brand or product storytelling
Use AR to tell your brand’s story or product journey. Strengthen emotional connection through immersive content. - Customer reviews and use cases
Showcase TikToks, Reels, Shorts, or video reviews directly on packaging. Let others tell the success of your product. - Interactive polls and feedback
Collect customer opinions right on the packaging. Yes, AR makes that possible—even offline! - Coupons and promo codes
Hide a secret promo code or word in AR. Offer discounts or surprises and boost loyalty. Don’t forget to link it to your social media! - Seasonal offers and promotions
Add themed AR content depending on the season or campaign — without changing your packaging design. - Loyalty programs and collectibles
Let buyers collect digital objects or characters in AR. Perfect for chains and retail programs—this takes loyalty to a whole new level.
What Does It Bring to Business?
- Increased engagement
- More repeat purchases
- Stronger emotional connection with the brand
- Cheaper and more effective than building a separate app
- Gathers customer insights — even from purely offline purchases!
Food & Beverage
- AR cooking tutorials
Add video instructions for preparing dishes with your product. Great opportunity for brand collaborations too! - Wine and cocktail pairing
Suggest drink pairings for meals (or vice versa). Don’t be shy — AR makes it fun and easy! - Virtual barista
Teach coffee brewing techniques or cocktail mixing right from the cup. - Motivational quotes
Add daily inspiration to coffee cups or bottles. Great for viral UGC — it gets shared! - Daily horoscopes
Light-hearted astrology content on the package. Entertaining, personalized — and viral. - AR games on candy wrappers
Add mini games or stories to candy packaging. Especially powerful for children’s products!
Plants & Flowers
- AR care instructions
Step-by-step watering and placement tips through AR. - Growth tracker
Let customers visualize how their plant will grow over time. Or diagnose and treat common diseases. - Flower meanings
Show what different flowers symbolize and how best to gift them.
Toys & Book
- AR book or story trailers
Create animated intros with music, characters, and atmosphere — like a movie trailer for your book. - Playable AR figures
Let toys come alive in games or interactive narratives — ideal for licensed characters and storytelling. - Character voiceovers
Scan the box and hear the hero speak or tell a short story. - Educational AR content
Quizzes, puzzles, or fun facts embedded in kids’ packaging. We’ve created hundreds of these!
Furniture & Interior
- Visualize furniture at home
Let users preview how a sofa or chair would look in their space — before they buy. - Assembly instructions in AR
Ditch the manual. Show step-by-step 3D instructions directly on the box. - AR interior designer
Change colors, fabrics, or styles right in the customer’s environment.
Fitness & Health
- AR workouts and routines
Your protein tub becomes a personal trainer showing exercises and routines. - Interactive usage guide
Explain how and when to use a supplement for the best results. - Progress tracker in AR
Scan the packaging to track progress and unlock motivational content.
Art & Creative Products
- AR gallery on the box
Turn your packaging into a mini art exhibition — complete with voiceover and interaction. - Animated book covers
Hey publishers! Imagine placing a book trailer directly on the cover — inspiring, cinematic, unforgettable.
- Artist stories through AR
Let the creator share their inspiration and process — build a deeper emotional bond. - Digital AR gifts inside
Surprise buyers with wallpapers, digital downloads, or NFTs they unlock via scan.
- AR art quests
Let buyers collect parts of a story or unlock a 3D scene after scanning multiple packages. - Virtual museum tour
Perfect for souvenir packaging — let customers visit the real museum virtually! - AR postcards & greetings
These are the postcards of the future — with animated landmarks and personalized messages.
Extra AR Packaging Ideas
- Virtual production tour
Show how your product is made and build brand transparency. - Product demo in action
Having trouble explaining a feature? Show it in AR — simple and visual. - Mini-games and quests
Start the adventure before the purchase! Perfect for puzzles or board games. - Virtual try-on
Let customers try on watches, glasses, or even clothes in AR — including through online catalogs.
- Holiday AR content
Our favorite! Add seasonal AR effects without printing new packaging. Did you know you can change AR content without altering the QR code?
39. Product gallery
Show all your flavors, styles, or SKUs in one interactive showcase. Update it anytime.
40. Educational content
Add product trivia, fun facts, or educational value to your packaging.
