A community of bold thinkers. An experience built to match.
Industry
Higher Education
Client
Rice University
Deliverables
Digital Virtual Experience
Collaborators
Rob Lassard - Web Development Stuart Holmes - Illustration
The Mission
This project aims to elevate Rice University’s visibility among top-performing prospective students by showcasing both the academic prestige and distinctive culture of its Houston home. While Houston is one of the nation’s most dynamic and diverse cities, its role in shaping the Rice experience is often underrecognized. The challenge was to bring this to life through a virtual experience that captures the university’s unconventional spirit, one that surprises, engages, and entertains. By creating an immersive, story-driven platform that mirrors Rice’s mix of intellectual rigor and playful personality, we set out to position Rice and Houston together as a compelling, must-see destination for ambitious students seeking something truly unique.
The Hook
Even when in-person visits weren’t possible, the virtual experience needed to give prospective students a true feel for life at Rice. We developed a platform that let users explore by interest, with relevant prompts that invite deeper discovery, like suggesting an engineering info session while touring the campus’s makerspace. To reflect Rice’s unique personality, we designed an illustrative campus map that balances creativity with refined sophistication—capturing the university’s spirited atmosphere while mirroring the intellect of its student body.
The Feeling
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Engaging Approachable Immersive Expressive
The Finish Line
