Project Overview
Constrains
I developed a custom AR filter to celebrate Michael’s (my former colleague's) 5-year anniversary at DEPT. The AR filter, designed to embody Michael's unique day-to-day look (baseball cap, beard, and glasses), was used by all team members during the weekly Google meeting.
○ One-week timeline
○ Must work in Google Meet
○ Accessible for everybody
○ Must resemble Michael
Design process
Research
To begin the project, I researched various AR development platforms to find one suitable for creating a custom AR filter that works in Google Meet. After evaluating several options, I chose Snapchat's Lens Studio due to its user-friendly interface, comprehensive documentation, and compatibility with Google Meet.
I started by familiarizing myself with Lens Studio's capabilities through tutorials and documentation. Next, I gathered reference images of Michael to ensure the filter accurately depicted his day-to-day appearance, including his baseball cap, beard, and glasses.
Development process
I began the development process in Lens Studio with confidence, thanks to my experience in game development gained during my VR minor. The familiarity with game engines made the transition smooth. I selected a template featuring a pre-existing beard growth effect and downloaded a few free 3D assets for the cap and glasses. I then modified these assets to accurately fit my model of Michael.
Creating this AR filter required no hard-core coding, making the process efficient and straightforward. After integrating the assets and customizing the filter, I ran a series of tests within Lens Studio's preview environment to ensure everything functioned correctly. Once the tests were successful, the filter was ready for use in our weekly Google Meet sessions.
Final product
I discreetly briefed the department on how to use the AR filter on their desktops for the Google Meet session by sharing simple instructions and a quick demo. When the moment came, everyone activated the filter as Michael joined the meeting, and it was a big success, making the celebration memorable and fun.
Aftermath
I initially published the AR filter on Snapchat and set its status too public to ensure everyone could access it. To my surprise, the filter went viral, garnering widespread attention and becoming incredibly popular. Its unexpected success continues to be a hit, with many still using it today.
Lens Insights from October 2022 show that when the AR filter went viral on Snapchat, it reached over 104.2k plays in one day.
Demographic breakdown of the AR filter usage as of October 2022.
To this day, the filter is still being used! Here are the annual statistics.
Want to try the filter yourself?
Simply scan the Snapcode from the image on Snapchat to access and activate the AR filter. Once scanned, the filter will pop up in your Snapchat camera!