UO Snap AR Scholars
In 2023, the University of Oregon collaborated with Snapchat to launch Snap AR Scholars, a student-led creative agency that produces research-informed AR storytelling projects for social impact. Each year, Snap AR Scholars work together to create an AR experience that can help non-profits create a positive social impact. During the 2023-2024 school year, Snap AR Scholars partnered with Hope for Haiti, an international NGO that provides various forms of aid to the island nation of Haiti.
Problem: Hope for Haiti, a non-profit organization saw a lack of education resources and donation for their organization. They wanted to look at various platforms to start a campaign to provide resources, education, and a call to action to donate toward the organization.
Insight: Hope for Haiti hopes to…
Increase Awareness of Hope for Haiti’s health and education impacts on the community
Build empathic connections between audiences, Hope for Haiti, and the communities they serve
Increase Donations towards Hope for Haiti’s ongoing initiatives
Task: Create an immersive space in Snapchat filters where users are able to explore a replica of a Haitian school, learn about the challenges Haitian children face to obtain education, and allow users to donate to the organization.
Result: Preliminary results from a within-subjects experiment examining the effects of the AR experience are promising. Participants reported a significant reduction in perceived distance to the Haitian community. Additionally, presence and interactivity correlated positively with prosocial responses. Currently, Snap AR Scholars is conducting a follow-up between-subjects experiment examining different versions of the AR experience, with focus on the role of embodiment in shaping these effects.
Role: Copywriter, Design Team
