Working on the AR Repair Experience was like creating a digital workshop, where users could interact with a virtual engine and learn how to repair it step by step. The project had multiple layers of interaction, effects, and feedback, all built in Lens Studio, making it as immersive and intuitive as possible. Let me walk you through how everything came together:
Tools
Area of expertise
Augmented Reality
3D
VFX
Overview
Role
All Aspects
Year
2023
Genre
Augmented Reality Trainer
Platform
Snapchat Lens Studio
Tools
Lens Studio, Maya, Substance Painter, Photoshop
Contributions
The heart of the experience is a mock engine model I built in Maya and textured in Substance Painter. The engine is designed to look industrial yet approachable, with clear interactive components. The repair process is broken into three key tasks, each with its own unique challenges and effects.
Replacing Damaged Coils
The first task focuses on replacing three damaged red coils. To make the damage visually obvious, I added current-leak VFX using animated particle effects that flicker and spark. Once the user selects and replaces a damaged coil with a green coil, the current-leak effect disappears, signaling that the part is fixed. This was done using trigger events in Lens Studio, where replacing the coil updates both the model and the corresponding visual effects.
Fixing Gears
The second task involves repairing two gears that are emitting smoke VFX to signal their malfunction. The gears remain stationary until the repair is complete. Once fixed, the smoke disappears, and the gears start rotating with smooth animations. The gear rotation is triggered by a timeline animation in Lens Studio, activated once the task is marked as complete. This added a dynamic, satisfying visual change that makes the repair feel impactful.
Welding with the Handheld Gun
The welding gun was one of the coolest interactive tools I worked on. Using body tracking, I attached the gun to the user’s right arm, giving them the feeling of holding it. A simple UI button on the screen allows the gun to be toggled on and off, with a glowing effect and sound cue when activated. The welding itself is visually represented by spark particle effects that appear when the gun is active near a repair point. This interaction makes the user feel like they’re performing real repairs, adding another layer of immersion.
The Engine Status Light
The engine has a status light that provides real-time feedback on the progress of the repairs.
Red: Indicates the engine is broken and no repairs have been completed.
Yellow: Turns on after the first task is completed, signaling partial progress.
Green: Lights up when all tasks are done. At this point, the button can be pressed to start the gear rotation, adding a final interactive moment to wrap up the experience.
This status light was programmed using state-based logic in Lens Studio, with each task updating the light’s color and functionality.
The Floating checklist
To keep users on track, I added a floating checklist display that updates dynamically as tasks are completed. The checklist has three items:
Replace damaged coils
Welding
Gears working
As each task is completed, the checklist updates, using script events in Lens Studio to change the text and check off the completed steps. It’s a simple feature but adds a lot of clarity and structure to the experience.
Visual Feedback and Flow
Every interaction had to feel smooth and satisfying.
The current-leak and smoke effects were built with particle systems, carefully tuned for performance in AR.
Animations like the gear rotation and light transitions were triggered by event-based timelines, ensuring they felt responsive and seamless.
The welding spark VFX and toggle button were integrated with the tracked hand, making the interaction feel natural and immersive.
Final reflection
The entire repair experience was built in Lens Studio, combining particle effects, animations, and UI elements with interactive triggers. The step-by-step approach, clear feedback, and immersive tools like the welding gun made it more than just a visual demo—it became a hands-on training tool that feels intuitive and engaging.
This project was one of my favorite AR experiences to build. It’s not just about showing off the tech—it’s about creating a flow where users feel like they’re genuinely repairing something. From the sparking coils to the final green light and rotating gears, every detail was designed to make the process immersive and satisfying. Working on this taught me how to balance technical complexity with user experience, and I can’t wait to bring even more interactive AR tools to life.
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