Cooper-Hewitt
"Get Set in Style"
Visitors to the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York have probably all had the same fantasy while touring the Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry exhibit. That fantasy, of course, is to try on the jewelry.
Of course, actually doing it is a big no-no. Thankfully, the museum has used its "Get Set in Style" Facebook app to give users the next best thing -- a photo of themselves or their friends wearing the jewelry.
When users open the app, they see their photo album and menu of digitized jewelry pieces that include earrings, necklaces, and brooches. Users can quickly select the photo they want to use as well the jewelry they want to try on. A simple zoom tool helps ensure ideal placement. After the user places the jewelry, the app saves the photo to a jewelry box.
On the museum's Facebook page, users get an immediate offer: "bejewel" themselves or a friend:
Users have a wide selection of exquisite designs to try on:
The app spreads virally as users "gift" jewelry designs to their friends and, in the process, earn reward pins:
Michael Estrin is freelance writer. He contributes regularly to iMedia, BitterLawyer.com, and Bankrate.com. His work has appeared in Fast Company, Nerve.com, and on MSN and Yahoo.
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