Interactive XR experience

Lens Studio

Design Brief

Create an interactive experience using Lens Studio and document the process.

Software:

The Concept: You've Been Abducted: A Snap Lens Experiment

For my midterm project, I wanted to experiment with augmented reality in a playful way. The result? An alien abduction lens that turns users into wide-eyed abductees hovering beneath a UFO, bathed in eerie green light, and activated only by a scream.

The Process

1. Eye Distortion
I began by enlarging the user's eyes to give them an otherworldly, alien-like appearance. This distortion instantly set the tone for the surreal and sci-fi aesthetic I was aiming for.

2. Time + Text Overlay
Next, I added a real-time clock display to ground the experience in the present moment, in addition to the dramatic phrase:
“You’ve been abducted.”

3. Generating a UFO
Using Snap’s AI asset generator, I prompted the tool to create UFO visuals. I selected one of the generated assets and positioned it above the user's head to simulate the classic abduction scene.

4. Light Beam Effect
To make it feel like the UFO was activating, I colored the background green, mimicking a tractor beam. This added drama and depth to the visual narrative.

5. Interaction via Facial Expression
To make the experience more interactive, I bound the effect to a mouth-open trigger. When the user screams (or even just opens their mouth), the entire abduction effect activates.

6. UI Prompt
To guide users, I included a clear UI command:
“Scream for UFO to appear”
This made the interaction more intuitive and playful.

The Lense:

Reflection

This was a fun and lighthearted AR experiment that pushed me to explore Snap’s toolset and AI-assisted workflows. If I had more time, I’d love to:

  • Animate the user’s body to float upward when the effect triggers

  • Redesign the green beam so it appears more stylized and concentrated—like a classic cartoon abduction ray

  • Add sound effects for a more immersive experience (e.g., UFO hum, abduction zap, etc.)

Overall, this was a great entry point into interactive AR design and a reminder that even simple effects can spark joy and storytelling when executed with intention.