Augmented reality calendar boosts dopamine levels

Increasing customer dopamine levels with AR features

Research from Hiroshima University reveals that most of us have a soft spot for furry cuteness and watching cute animal videos delivers our brain a minuscule blast of dopamine. Animal video experiences work the same chemical reward system activated by drugs like cocaine. It makes us come back for more before we are even conscious we want to. So this calendar is sure to cheer up an office wall just as well as fit into a client’s home and bring continuous joy to its owners.

Anyone can create an augmented reality calendar

The best thing about the Riga Forests corporate calendar is that in essence, a video-infused AR calendar is a simple idea to replicate. The organization featured existing video materials and photos from its archives. Almost everyone of us have a backlog of photos and videos in our iCloud and Google Drives. This applies to both business and personal content archives.

What is more, creating augmented reality experiences with video is extremely easy using platforms like Overly Creator. And what about printing a calendar? Anyone can do that even on low budgets using DIY online platforms that offer local or global delivery. Below we’ve included another corporate calendar example. In this example airBaltic used the behind the scenes footage of its annual calendar shoot. 

How to make your own AR calendar for 2027

A video calendar is one of the simplest AR projects you can make, and one of the longest-lasting: it stays on the wall for twelve months. Here is how we would do it:

1. Pick 12 photos and 12 short videos. One for each month. Use a frame from each video as the printed photo, so the picture seems to come alive when scanned.
2. Design the calendar. Canva and most online print services have wall calendar templates. Keep each month’s photo large, sharp and full of contrast so it is easy to recognize.
3. Add a scan instruction. Put a short “Scan the photo with the Overlyapp app” note and a QR code to overlyapp.com/get on the cover or the first page.
4. Create the AR. In the Overlyapp editor, upload each month’s photo as a marker and attach its video. Test every page on your own phone before printing.
5. Print and send. Any local or online printer will do. Matte paper reflects less light and scans more reliably than glossy.

For more tips, see how to design images that scan well.

Want AR calendars for your company or clients?

Corporate calendars are a classic year-end gift, and AR makes yours the one people keep. Our team produces AR calendars for companies, agencies and print houses: you send the photos and videos, we deliver print-ready files with the AR set up, tested and measured. Order an AR calendar for 2027 →