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
1
2
3
4
5
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
Starting from templates can be a great source of inspiration
Next Steps
Connecting to your personal life can help your lens be more personable
How difficult it can be to create your own assets
Find ways for the user to import their snap photos and videos into the lens
How to generate custom scenes to fit more with the theme of their photos
How to connect my Figma designs into my Lens
