Zen Zone
Empower, Explore, Elevate: Your Journey to Inner Serenity
Team: Brandon Kakudo, Alize Guzman
Programs used:
Zen Zone is a Snapchat Lens created as our final project at the Snap Lens Academy. The Lens is designed to immerse users in a calming and educational experience. Its goal is to empower individuals to address and manage anxiety while spreading awareness about mental health. The Zen Zone Lens features two main aspects: the World Lens (rear camera) and the Face Lens (front camera). The World Lens utilizes markers, such as images related to anxiety awareness, to unveil immersive scenes. Meanwhile, the Face Lens transforms the user's appearance into a serene and engaging visual that complements the lens's purpose.
Sumer 2023 | 4 weeks
My Role: AR Development, Visual Design, Project Management, Video Editing
Client: Snapchat
Project Brief
Develop an innovative AR experience on Snapchat that brings to life the stories and experiences of individuals impacted by your assigned theme. Utilize various tracking methods, such as Landmarker, Marker, and ML detection, to engage users with informative content, raise awareness, and inspire action related to the designated topic.
Problem
Anxiety silently impacts the lives of countless youths, affecting their well-being and daily functionality. However, accessible tools and resources for managing anxiety are significantly lacking. Moreover, the negative influence of excessive social media usage on mental health is becoming evident, exacerbating feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and anxiety among youth.
Insights
1 in 3 youth struggle with anxiety, and only 20% of those affected receive help.
Research highlights a strong correlation between heavy social media use and increased risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-harm among youths. The need for a supportive platform that promotes well-being, educates about mental health, and provides effective coping strategies has become critical.
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Soluion
Insights
1 of 3
Youth struggle with anxiety
75%
Starts by the age of 25
20%
Affected receive help
Ideate
After conducting research, the team held brainstorming workshops where we subsequently grouped ideas and concepts, identifying the top-priority ideas.
Research
Now that we know which ideas to prioritize, we promptly created an affinity map to discover connections and categorized them into two main features: "Educate" - spreading awareness and knowledge, and "Practices" - coping with anxiety techniques.
We made the decision to split these categories between the front and back camera, enabling users to receive holistic support in addressing anxiety-related topics.
After conducting research, the team held brainstorming workshops where we subsequently grouped ideas and concepts, identifying the top-priority ideas.
Sketches & storyboard
Scan & try out yourself
Moving into the development phase, we translated our conceptual ideas into reality using Blender for 3D modeling. These models were then imported into Lens Studio, where we meticulously integrated them into our AR experience.
For the back camera world, Lens Studio's capabilities allowed us to craft an immersive environment. Every element, from objects' placement to colors and lighting, was carefully calibrated to evoke serenity. This stage was iterative, demanding constant refinement to ensure the desired atmosphere was achieved.
Turning to the front camera experience, we aimed for engagement and education. This involved coding and refining the UI, such as the yoga challenge interface, to ensure a user-friendly journey through poses.
Style Guide
Final Reflection
Throughout the development of the "Serenity Zone" AR Lens, we encountered various challenges that prompted creative problem-solving. One significant challenge was implementing the yoga challenge feature for the front camera. This required us to identify the optimal method – either training an ML model for pose recognition or utilizing joint tracking triggers – to offer users a seamless and accurate yoga experience. After persistent coding, testing, and iterating, we achieved a seamless execution.
Challege
Creating the Zen Zone AR Lens was an illuminating journey that deepened my understanding of both augmented reality technology and the importance of addressing mental health in innovative ways. Through this project, I honed my skills in UI/UX design, storytelling, and content creation. Additionally, I gained insights into the power of technology as a tool for positive change, particularly in the realm of mental health awareness and support. This experience has further inspired me to explore how technology can be harnessed to create impactful solutions for real-world challenges.
Lessons Learned
Testing and Iteration: Conduct extensive user testing to gather feedback and identify any areas for improvement. This iterative process will ensure that the lens aligns with user expectations and effectively fulfills its purpose.
Collaborations and Partnerships: Collaboration with mental health professionals, educators, and advocacy groups to enhance the lens's credibility and reach. By partnering with experts, we can refine the lens's content and ensure its accuracy.
Awareness Campaigns: To amplify the lens's impact, launch awareness campaigns across social media platforms and relevant communities. These campaigns will focus on spreading the word about the lens, its benefits, and how it can be accessed.
Feedback Integration: User feedback will remain at the core of our lens's development. We will actively incorporate user suggestions and preferences into future iterations, ensuring that the lens remains a valuable tool for its intended audience.
Next Steps
Virtual Wardrobe
Scuba Diveing
Spring Blush
Material Swap
