BASIC / DEPT

Snap Inc. is one of the largest augmented reality channels in the world, with a daily user count in the tens of millions. Augmented reality—commonly known as AR—is on the rise, and a major barrier to entry is its complexity. As a result, brands have been hesitant to tap into this technology despite its potential for global demand.

To capitalize on the growing need for AR capabilities, Snap created Lens Studio, an easy-to-use development platform. The goal was to make this modern technology more open-source, giving creative license to people outside the company—from frequent Snapchatters to young 3-D artists to seasoned business professionals.

We were brought in to help introduce this platform in a way that leveraged both Snapchat’s technical expertise and signature whimsy. Overall, our strategy was to give visitors the full Lens Studio experience. We collaborated with the client on a central destination for inspiration and education, where users can learn about Lens Studio capabilities, browse examples of content through QR codes, download the app, and dive deep into a robust set of development resources.

Length: 3 months

This was a fast yet tactical project. Working with multiple vendors and agencies to make the developer platform come to life with a new design system was a challenge in itself. Cross collaboration was key for the success of this engagement.

Considering the distinct audience segments, we realized the experience—especially the more technical sections—had to be as simple as possible.

The challenge was to take a dense set of information and create something that could be easily understood by students and engineers alike, toeing the line between pragmatic and playful. Our framework was set up to be a support page for Lens Creators as well as a starting point for those new to the Lens Studio and the world of augmented reality.