a Project
IN WITH THE OLD
A New Standard
Class App
Riveting Experience
TIME TRAVEL
Past Meets Present
A Marketing Adventure
Live Lead Free
Friends in Highland Places
Become One-of-a-kind
Innovation That Drives
Educational Fun
Winners Circle
History Redefined
Game On!
The Rusty Sword
About Us
Founders
Capabilities
Careers
Hello, Let's Begin
Ready to make something amazing?
We’re here to listen, collaborate and create with you. Think of us as an extension of your team. Together we’ll create experiences, products and services to delight your customers—and take your business and brand where you’ve never been before.
Want to work with us?
If you don’t see an open position, connect with us anyway. We’re always on the lookout for talented creatives eager to take their careers to the next level.
Plow Digital
571 Monon Blvd, Suite 200
Carmel, IN 46032
IN WITH THE OLD
Mercer Museum
Interactive table
The Mercer Museum, located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, wanted a high-end, engaging experience that introduced its audience to the museum campus and allowed multiple users to interact simultaneously. After seeing our successful work on Destination Indiana at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis, they contacted Plow to make it happen. The result is impressive – an 80-inch touchscreen table where users explore historic Doylestown, scrub through a timeline of 3D buildings, learn about Henry Chapman Mercer’s curated collections, play games, watch Rollo the dog scamper about, and more from all sides! The wood and metal table enclosure was also designed by Plow for an authentic pre-Industrial vibe and fabricated locally. All components were white glove-shipped and reassembled within the museum.
How we did it
Made with Unity and JSON-formatted data. Various windows containing interactive content can be accessed from any side of the touchscreen table. Several layers of animation make this experience a sight to behold!
A NEW STANDARD
Allison Transmission
HoloLens VR Sales App
Plow believes in exploring the latest technologies to enhance a user’s experience of the information in exciting ways. Allison Transmission and our agency partner, CVR, wanted to feature their latest green technologies using the latest virtual reality technologies: the Microsoft HoloLens. Unlike augmented reality, VR allows users to see and interact with virtual objects and information in the real world. This maintains the connection between the presenter and the audience while they explore the product. In the Allison HoloLens experience, users could explore and switch between products to learn about their features, options, and operations by grabbing, turning, and pulling apart the product models in real time. The revealed text information, product details, and diagrams help the presenter outline the product’s benefits while providing an exciting experience.
How we did it
Plow worked with Allison to create detailed representations of the new 100D and 100S axles using the products’ CAD files. These were placed in an augmented reality space with the user, allowing them to manipulate the products, walk around, and explore their features.
CLASS APP
The Macallan
Academy Sales App
Plow Digital with our partners at LABOV have created a New Macallan Academy app. The Macallan employees, distributors, trade professionals and partners can access over 70 classes, videos and downloadable resources about The Macallan. Learners can earn certification for successfully completing quizzes over what they’ve learned and achievement badges for viewing additional information. The Macallan Academy app is private, only for registered users and for those of legal drinking age in their country of residence.
How we did it
Made with React Native and web views of the Macallan Academy website. Available as an iOS and Android app. The app has the ability to display deep linked push notifications. Available in nine languages and distributed around the world.
Riveting Experience
Airstream 3D Virtual Tour
Airstream
What if there was a way to influence a customer’s purchase without them leaving their home? A solution which could reveal unique features, details and finishes about your product? As of March 2020, for companies around the world, that is now a critical need.
Plow, and our agency partner, LABOV were challenged by Airstream to bring their product to life in a setting that could cross platforms and enable intelligent discovery. Our idea was to create and illustrate in 3D, a highly-detailed model that allows a user to move and explore the Airstream similar to an in-person experience. Users can fully rotate the Airstream, click or tap on hot spots to see awnings extend/retract and then go inside to explore more features. This was a virtual win-win for our client and their customers.
How we did it
The 3D Airstream model was developed from an existing engineering CAD file and expanded and transformed in Unity3D- a 3D and 2D authoring tool which allows flexible control over animations, photographs, audio and more. As a final step, Plow placed the 3D model in Web GL which allows the user to interact with a 3D object within a website.
TIME TRAVEL
Indiana Historical Society
Destination Indiana Experience
At the Indiana Historical Society, visitors can explore Indiana’s history and every corner of the state in the Destination Indiana exhibit. The Plow team collaborated with IHS to create stories and experiences to transport visitors through time. Gesture-based touch-screen controls and immersive displays put visitors in the driver’s seat as they swipe, pinch and tap their way through history. The result is an interactive experience with eight time travel stations that highlight 300 journeys. Through stories, visitors can experience the Civil War, social justice, women’s suffrage and other historical moments.
How we did it
Developed in Unity, the display uses a server-side backend and runs on Linux. The Plow team wrote an external program to handle multi-touch.
Past Meets Present
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Museum Website
Plow and the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site partnered together to start a new web initiative. Both teams were involved throughout the whole process, from design to development and launch. The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, located in the heart of Indianapolis, has an immersive collection of Harrison family artifacts that date back to the early 1800’s. The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s mission is to share the life stories, arts and culture of the 23rd American President to increase public participation in the American system of self-government.
How we did it
The new WordPress website features a clean and elegant design that matches the style that you would see when taking a tour of the Presidential Site. The website also features 100, 3D and 2D objects that can be found inside of the house.
Take some time and dive into the Collections today!
A Marketing Adventure
Revenue Smasher: An ABM Adventure
Terminus
Terminus, an international B2B marketing software company, wanted to develop a game in the style of classic, 16-Bit Japanese RPGs as a way to market their capabilities. After playing our 16-Bit Office Tour of the Plow Digital downtown office, located at https://plowdigital.com/retrotour, they contacted us to get started on their dream. Over several months, we had a lot of fun working with Terminus to develop a great game that would have all the things you’d expect from a classic 16-Bit RPG, such as awesome pixel-art, a nostalgic turn-based battle system, an amazing custom soundtrack, and more! Not only is Revenue Smasher playable on the web, we also made a version for Retroid Pocket handheld gaming systems that are sold with Terminus-branded decals at their company store. At the request of Terminus, we were even able to get the game to perform flawlessly on a Nintendo Switch during development.
How we did it
Plow planned out the functionality of Revenue Smasher based on concepts from Terminus. We developed the game with Unity, meticulously hand-pixeled countless sprites and tiles, and even designed a printable retro instruction booklet.
Live Lead Free
Mission Unleaded CDC AR App
Marion County Public Health Department
While exploring your home, you will be confronted with many things that can create lead hazards. These hazards are harmful to your family and pets. But they are especially harmful to small children and pregnant women. During your interactive augmented reality adventure, you will be confronted with well-known hazards such as lead-based paints, but also lesser known hazards that hide on children’s toys, in the water or even in the garden. Find the hazards and learn how to take care of them to keep your family and pets safe from the harmful effects of lead poisoning. Remember, no one needs lead in their bodies to survive. There is no safe level of lead exposure. Learn about these hazards, the health effects of lead and to treat and remediate a home.
How we did it
The staff at the Marion County Public Health Department was looking for a special means to connect with their clients and share information about the hazards of lead in a home. The Plow team chose augmented reality to allow for 3D models and x-ray-like views into a home.
Friends in Highland Places
Macallan Scotch LMS with LABOV
Macallan
Working with LABOV, Plow created a world class learning management system for Macallan Scotch. The training was specifically designed for mobile devices and with quick swiping gestures, beautiful photography and information about Macallan products engage the user. Animations and full motion video complete the experience and make learning and retention easy. The system also includes quizzes, badges, certificates and analytics on the back end for corporate users.
Become One-of-a-kind
Audi Exclusive
Audi of America
Audi exclusive is a program that allows Audi buyers to choose unique options and colors and have the vehicle built accordingly, mixing or matching more than a dozen shades of leather and stitching for their seats, armrests, door trim, inserts and virtually any exterior color the customer desires. Based on a dealer training app Plow had developed, Audi asked Plow to develop a full-featured version.
The new app enables Audi salespeople to walk customers through the choices and order an Audi exclusive model, right from a tablet. The Audi exclusive app enhances the premium retail experience, increases the accuracy of orders and streamlines communication between dealer and manufacturer.
Innovation That Drives
Allison Transmission Tradeshow Experience
Allison Transmission + CVR
Allison Transmission and our agency partner, CVR, wanted an innovative and intuitive experience to engage users at tradeshows throughout US and Europe. As the world’s largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, they needed a cutting-edge platform to showcase their products and stand apart with futuristic appeal. Plow helped distinguish Allison by integrating a custom screensaver with global iconography, a scalable, interactive product app with 3D animated transmissions, videos and brochures, and a data collection app for streamlined client intake. The experience had a custom kiosk designed.
How we did it
The Allison Tradeshow Experience was built using Unity3D- a 3D and 2D authoring tool which allows flexible control over animations, photographs, audio and more. Plow also integrated multiple After Effects animations and custom 3D illustrations from engineering CAD files.
Educational Fun
Crash Course
Complexly
Complexly, a large video production company, wanted an app that taught their educational content in a fun way. They also needed the ability to upload new content and courses often and have the app download the updates to a user’s device. Over several months, Plow worked with Complexly to develop Crash Course.
How we did it
We developed the app with Unity, using our in-house button and scrollpane components for the most intuitive user-experience. We also used several web technologies to build a custom content-management system for uploading new courses that contain large amounts of images, text, and animations.
Winners Circle
Borg Warner Trophy
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum requested a multi-use 3D interactive featuring the Borg-Warner Trophy. Visitors are be able to view trophy details for each driver and learn more about the drivers, history and development of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 as well as learn how the trophy is made.
How we did it
Programmed using the Unity 3D engine, the interactive can be implemented on iPad/Tablet kiosks as well as the larger format touch screen with a CPU driver. These exhibits will travel to different locations around the country.
History Redefined
Indiana Historical Society
Corporate Website
The Indiana Historical Society museum in downtown Indianapolis has a vast archive of important documents and artifacts that are publicly available both on site as well as on the web. The website in particular is an important tool for researchers, teachers and academics. With built-in access to WorldCat, the site allows researchers from around the world to access documents that have been curated by IHS’ staff of archivists.
How we did it
Plow oversaw the redesign, re-organization and republishing of the site to make it more streamlined for visitors to the site, site administrators and the archivists who maintain the records. The site fulfills the needs of marketing, membership services, operations and archive departments by offering a range of tailored solutions to meet each of their needs.
Game On!
Indiana Historical Society
Indianapolis Colts: The Exhibit Games
IHS approached Plow to create two interactives for their new Colts Story exhibit, a two-year long exhibit showcasing the history and impact of the Colts on the city of Indianapolis. We created an ADA-compliant Kinect controlled game in which the guest controls a player running down an endless football field, dodging defenders and obstacles to run the greatest distance possible. We also created a photo booth experience that allows guests to take their pictures with scaled images of Colts players from the past and present. For both exhibits we helped IHS create design requirements for the installations. The exhibit will be at the Indiana Historical Society for 18 months.
How we did it
Kinect Game: This interactive exhibit was built using the Kinect API for Unity. Visitors to the museum can control the game by jumping and moving right and left as they dodge the opposing team. An ADA-compliant mode allows visitors with limited mobility to control the game with basic arm movements.
Photobooth: Built with Unity, this exhibit allows visitors to take a picture of themselves next to a Colts player they choose. The app takes four pictures which the visitor can email to themselves. Using the front-facing camera on an installed 10.5″ iPad Pro, users can line themselves up in the shot and get visual feedback from the app without an expensive camera and CPU rig.
An Epic Adventure
The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island
Plow Games
Here at Plow, we’re always inspired by classic games, so we decided to make our own top-down adventure game called The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island. It features two small island overworlds, each with a large non-linear dungeon, countless monsters to defeat, awesome art, and an amazing custom soundtrack. In the game, players must go on a quest to find the Vanguard Relic.
Releases
The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island has been released for Nintendo Switch on the Nintendo eShop, for Windows, Mac, and Linux on Steam, for Android on Google Play, for iOS on the Apple App Store, and for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android on itch.io. We’re currently working on a new game called The Rusty Sword: Runelock Island, which will use The Rusty Sword: Vanguard Island as a foundation and feature a single, much larger overworld, towns, new monsters, and several dungeons.
Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.
About Us
PEOPLE LOVE OUR WORK At Plow, we don’t draw the line between work and fun. We love what we do. That’s our secret to consistently producing quality work that exceeds clients’ expectations and wins consumers’ hearts. Our agency partners amp up their capabilities with software and digital innovations. Museums amaze visitors with cutting-edge user experiences. Brands reach new audiences with engaging apps and games. Reignite your imagination. Come work – and play – with us.
Check out our other sites!
plowgames.com
plowfoundry.com
About Us
Meet the Founders
Greg Phillips and Derek O’DellGreg has endless curiosity and desire to give brands a unique edge with notable results. He provides thought leadership on all creative projects at PLOW and takes a lead role in business development for national and international clients and partners. He also has a talent for talent, and curates the best digital warriors for amazing results. If you have a concept that really excites, then ask Greg to turn it into reality.
Derek began working with Greg around 2002 after more than 20 years in interactive software creation. Since he and Greg shared the same objectives and goals, it was an easy decision to co-found Plow Digital, where his practical process skills in software development – including project management, interactive programming and graphics creation – deliver the perfect balance to Greg’s creative vision.
Founders
Capabilities
Turning Over New IdeasAt Plow Digital, we create software, develop apps, and dream up interactive experiences. If it’s digital, we do it. We create installations, websites, augmented and virtual reality. We go beyond the traditional, tapping into our passion for immersive technologies to elevate products, services, and brands in unexpected ways. Our friendly team of magicians is practiced at listening and learning. We want to hear where you’re coming from and where you want to go. Together we’ll create environments and experiences that will delight your audiences – and take your business and brand where you’ve never been before.
Take a deeper dive into our services.
Strategy
Creative
Development
Analytics
Branding
Social
Capabilities
Strategy
Plow will help bring your vision to life. We’ll work closely with you on a strategy and plan for your digital project, then execute that plan with precision. From wireframing to prototyping to UX, we can work with you to make your idea a reality. // Strategy & Planning; Prototyping, Wireframes, Storyboards, UX, Technical Specifications, Website audits
Creative
At Plow, we understand the significance of quality. Our crew of creatives gives each product and brand a distinctive and original look and feel through graphic, web and interface design. We plan and strategically work through all creative processes—without restricting creative development. // Website, Mobile, Responsive Design, User Interface Design, Games (Online, Mobile, Installation), AR/VR/360, Installations (Trade & Museum), Motion/Animation, Illustration, 3D, Gamification, Identity
Development
Our goal is to make complex technical processes user-friendly. To develop cross-platform solutions, we work with trusted practices and state-of-the-art technology. To bridge functionality and design, we create comprehensively arranged user interfaces for your project.
Capabilities Web Front End Development, Responsive UI and UX Design, Back End Development, Software Development, Mobile Application Development, Content Management System Solutions, Global Website Support, Database Modeling, E-Commerce Solutions, API Connectivity Solutions, ADA Compliance, Maintenance & Support, Mobile Device Management, AR/VR, Game Development, CMS, LMS
Development Code HTML5 / CSS3, JavaScript / jQuery / AJAX / XML / JSON, Java, C#, C++, PHP / MySQL, .NET, SQL, Twitter Bootstrap framework, Angular JS framework, Unity, Unreal Engine, Phaser HTML5 Engine, PlayCanvas
eCommerce WooCommerce
CMS WordPress, OpenText TeamSite, Umbraco, Drupal
Mobile Bluetooth LE integration, Xcode, Android, Cordova, Vuforia AR, MobileIron, API Google Maps, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Python, SAML/SSO, Google Analytics
Hardware Meta Quest 2/Quest Pro VR, HTC Virtual Reality headsets, Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality headset, KINECT for Windows, Touchscreen hardware
Analytics
The goal of every project is to achieve our clients’ goals. Plow monitors analytics and tracking, adjusting content to build traffic. // Web Analytics, Usability Testing, A/B Testing, Conversion Tracking, Google Analytics
Branding
At Plow, we provide consulting to help you develop a strong brand strategy. Good communication, expert advice and creative collaboration are the foundation of every project. // Strategic Planning & Analysis, Creative Brand Consulting, Brand Development, Project Management
Social
At Plow we take care of digital marketing services—from communication strategy and content marketing to community management. // Social Media Strategy, Community Management, Social Media Marketing, Social Media Advertising, Social Media Management
Process
The Plow Digital team takes a modified Agile approach to our projects. During the Planning and Creative stages of the project, the teams will work hard to gain consensus on the project requirements, the user experience and the user interface for the software being developed. Once the teams are aligned on the project direction, iterative development will begin.
Testing and QA Process Our testing and quality assurance process primarily revolves around Story Testing, User Acceptance Testing, Regression Testing, and is entwined with our overall SCRUM Process. We utilize an agile development tool called PivotalTracker to manage our user stories, monitor project flow, organize sprint iterations, and report bugs.
Built to Collaborate
Careers at PlowPlow Digital is all about technology, creativity, and innovation. But we wouldn’t be Plow without our people. Our designers, illustrators, animators, 3D artists, and programmers rev up their usual intelligence and talents to keep our creative engine running. We communicate, build trust, and set expectations together. We’re friendly. And we love what we do. We’ve heard that’s why our clients like us. They get to be a part of the team.