William Le

Snap inc. Externship

Lens Challenge 2024

Externship overview

PROCESS HIGHLIGHTS

Challenge

Design a Snap Lens that encapsulates the transformative spirit of sports, bringing our Snapchat community closer together.

Create a lens that celebrate sports as a universal language that transcends boundaries and unites us all.

Opportunity

Timeline

Mar 14 - 31, 2024

Responsibilities

Tools

Creative Brainstorming

UX Research

Lens Studio

Figma

Wireframing

Prototyping

User Experience Design

User Interface Design

Disciplines

AR Development

Notion

Executive Summary

BACKGROUND

In response to Snap's augmented reality (AR) challenge, I aim to design a Snap Lens that encapsulates the transformative spirit of sports, bringing our Snapchat community closer together. Sports extend far beyond mere games; they shape cultures, bend minds, and redefine the game. They generate vibes, foster connections, and energize us in a way that's unparalleled. The thrill of scoring the winning goal or the shared cheers among friends highlight how sports uniquely unite people, sparking inspiration and driving innovation, reminiscent of how global events like the Olympics and World Cup bring nations together. My lens will celebrate sports as a universal language that transcends boundaries and unites us all, demonstrating my creativity and how sports inject joy, excitement, and togetherness into our Snapchat community.

The Process

Research

Childhood

Time Capsules

Brand Research

Sports

Synthesis

Journey Map

Ideation

Lens Idea

Concept Board

Low Fidelity

Final Designs

Final Concept

Reflection

Key Takeaways

Childhood

RESEARCH

As I dive into understanding how people behave and interact with technology, I'm fascinated by how augmented reality (AR) can make us feel nostalgic about our childhood. Studies show that most adults love reminiscing about their early years, especially the times when we used our imagination freely. In fact, a survey found that a whopping 85% of grown-ups enjoy remembering their childhood adventures. Looking back on my own past, I remember how much fun I had creating make-believe worlds without smartphones always in hand. Now, I want to use this feeling in our AR projects, so users can relive those joyful moments of creativity and exploration. By tapping into this shared longing for the carefree days of youth, our AR features can bring people together and make them feel connected, even in the digital world.

Time Capsule

RESEARCH

I find it fascinating how time capsules bring people together across different ages. It's amazing that at one point, more than 70% of high schools used to make them, showing how much people valued keeping memories for the future. Thinking about scenes in movies or hearing stories from parents about making time capsules helps me understand why they're so special to people.

Brand Research

RESEARCH

Snapchat holds a remarkable power: it offers users the chance to revisit cherished moments, capturing them vividly and preserving the essence of specific periods in their lives. By enabling this feature, Snapchat fulfills its mission to facilitate living in the present, expanding knowledge about the world, and fostering shared enjoyment. It serves as a versatile tool for communication, effortlessly conveying the entirety of human emotions. Snap's innovative approach to reimagining the camera not only enriches daily experiences but also hints at boundless potential for the future of both Snap and augmented reality (AR). With this vision in mind, I foresee Snap and AR unlocking endless possibilities for enhancing people's lives.

Connecting to Sports

RESEARCH

And this is no different from sports. Sports are a great way to bring people together, whether you are watching the game in the stadium, at home, at a restaurant, etc. It's about coming together to share moments and the energy that sports bring to people. And with my lens concept, I hope you are truly able to see how Snap isn’t just a fun filter that people try out when they are bored, but that there is a form of storytelling within the experience you get from an AR Snap experience.

Journey Map

SYNTHESIS

“This is going to be once in a lifetime!”

“One for the books!”

“Take a look at my Snap Lens!”

“Wow, what a time!”

He then takes photos and videos throughout the game

As time passes, he wants to show his friend his trip through his captures

Through my Lens, Johnny and his friend are able to “relive” the moment

Starting

Captures

Remembers

Relive

As a huge fan of USA Men’s soccer, he knew he couldn’t miss the opportunity to attend a game in his home country for the 2026 World Cup. During this time, he takes photos and videos to remember his experience at the game.

Jackson Miller

He walks into the stadium to take his seat

My Lens Idea

IDEATION

I wanted not only to follow Snap's mission and the design brief of sports that bring us together, but also to connect it to myself, as I've played soccer my entire life. With the World Cup 2026 coming to the US, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to use my skills to create a real impact on how people around the world will be able to create memories, as I know that having a World Cup hosted in the country you are born in is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Concept Board

IDEATION

After creating my lens idea, I investigated how I could bring this concept to life by drawing inspiration from various Lens Studio templates and previous AR projects.

Low Fidelity

IDEATION

After creating my lens idea, I investigated how I could bring this concept to life by drawing inspiration from various Lens Studio templates and previous AR projects.

My Lens + Final Concept

FINAL DESIGNS

An AR Portal that allows sports fans to share their memories of their trip through an 'art gallery'-like dimension.

Try it out for yourself!

My lens showcases my gallery from my trip to Barcelona! During this time, I was selected to play in the Mare Nostrum tournament with the US-sponsored team in Barcelona. Enjoy!

Key Takeaways

REFLECTION