# VR Painting Experiences McDonald's Helps Fans Unleash Their Inner Artist with VR Art at SXSW By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-03-15 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vr-art References: [adweek](http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/sxsw-attendees-can-paint-their-own-virtual-reality-happy-meal-box-170188) At this year's South by [Southwest](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/getaways-by-southwest), McDonald's worked with Groove Jones to reveal "the future of fun" with an immersive VR art experience. Fans are being invited to try an experience built for the HTC [Vive](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fall-2026-collection), which has them feel as though they've been shrunken down to a size small enough to fit into a Happy Meal box. Inside the all-white Happy Meal box, people are invited to color the interior with virtual reality paint. The experience is reminiscent of a similar virtual reality stunt from Jim Beam, which took fans inside a whiskey bottle, effectively connecting them with products on a deeper level from a new perspective. Weeks earlier, [McDonald's Sweden](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-truck-billboard) experimented with the distribution of Happy Meal boxes that could be transformed into virtual reality viewers. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.9/10 - Popularity: 79% | Activity: 89% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Interactive](https://www.trendhunter.com/interactive) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Virtual Reality Experiences:** As virtual reality continues to gain popularity, there is potential for companies to create immersive experiences that allow customers to interact with their products in unique and creative ways. - **Branded VR Campaigns:** Brands can leverage virtual reality technology to create engaging campaigns that allow consumers to experience their products in a memorable and impactful way. - **VR Marketing Strategies:** As more companies explore the use of virtual reality in their marketing efforts, there is an opportunity to develop novel strategies that enhance brand awareness and drive consumer engagement. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fast Food Restaurants:** Fast food chains like McDonald's can utilize virtual reality technology to create unique and memorable experiences for their customers that increase brand loyalty and engagement. - **Alcohol Industry:** Alcohol brands can use virtual reality campaigns like Jim Beam's whiskey bottle experience to help customers better understand and connect with their products, potentially leading to increased sales and loyalty. - **Advertising and Marketing:** As virtual reality becomes more ubiquitous, advertising and marketing firms can explore new ways to utilize the technology to enhance campaigns and create impactful experiences for consumers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [VR Burger Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wendyverse.md) - [QSR-Inspired Interactive Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/my-happy-place.md) - [AR-Enabled Fast Food Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snap-shack.md) - [In-Person Gallery Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whataburger-museum-of-art.md) - [Kids-Focused Space-Themed Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spacethemed-collaboration.md) - [Nugget-Inspired Video Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcnuggets-land.md) - [AR Restaurant Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/white-castle-3.md) - [Immersive Digital Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mayoverse.md) - [Mixed-Reality Burrito Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chipotle-1.md)