The avatar service Genies has released a new 3D avatar software development kit (SDK). Its partners, including Giphy and Gucci, can place a branded avatar experience and online marketplace directly into their apps. This gives app users the ability to express themselves through their avatar personas and purchase thousands of digital clothing and accessory options, expanding an existing brand’s reach and reinforcing the brand’s identity, color palette, etc.
Is Your Brand Outdated?
In the information age, brand image is paramount. Visual identity is what helps a product or service establish itself in the minds of consumers. Even small businesses invest considerable amounts in style guides to help ensure their logo design, brand voice, marketing campaigns, and social media presence are coherent in telling their brand story. On average, businesses rebrand about once a decade. Rebranding your business must be done with care: a complete rebrand that abandons your brand’s tone of voice can torpedo brand equity. Signs that your brand might need refreshing:
- Your brand isn’t generating as much attention as it used to
- Your brand doesn’t stand out from its competitors any more
- Your company’s scope has changed
- Your message is not well-conveyed by your brand
- You want to expand or shift your target audience
Ways to Refresh Your Brand’s Look Without Rebranding
A complete rebrand is a hazardous process. There’s usually no need to do anything so drastic, though. Giving your brand a fresh look can be as simple as implementing SDK content in your company’s app. Genies’ lifelike avatars have been adopted by big celebrity names such as Cardi B, Rihanna, and Shawn Mendes, as well as MLB and the NBA. Different brands can use SDK content for their own specific purposes. For example, Gucci uses Genies to help users virtually try on their latest designs and sell digital goods. Giphy users can use Genies avatars as gifs on its site and distribution network.
Genies released the first version of its SDK in 2018 when it raised a $10 million to directly challenge Snap and Apple for avatar dominance. Now, with the latest update, the company said it has managed to create a new three dimensional rendering that can be used across platforms — if developers let Genies handle the animation.
Genies brings lifelike avatars to other apps with $10M from celebrities
Genies has already managed to sign up many of the biggest names in entertainment to act as their official manager through their Genies talent agency. These include celebrities like Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Cardi B, and Rihanna. Genies also locked in deals with the National Football League’s player’s association along with Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association.
The SDK integrations are still highly curated and tailored (there’s a lot of heavy lifting that Genies needs to do with each one). For instance, Gucci users can try on the latest designs and the company will sell digital goods on its platform created by Genies. Giphy users will use their avatars as gifs on its site and through its distribution network.
