AR Production

Moving on with the project, we are past the stages of testing, prototyping, and experiments. In the last three weeks, we have accomplished the final scans of all our trees and did clean ups of the models. We were unable to scan one of our trees, the redwood tree since there were restrictions as to space and size a drone could fly. However, our orange tree and sycamore tree are the actual 3D models of the trees we have on campus. While the palm tree is a hybrid with a real scanned trunk with a pre-fabricated model of its leaves. Our 3D modeling team has worked really hard in making the AR experience as interactive as possible by including minor elements such as ambient noises and other natural elements.

At this stage, we need to focus on refining and improving the user experience so our audience has a seamless experience. We are doing so by creating many test AR models and actually observing even tiniest of details such as birds, butterflies, and minor wind that would sway the tree. Apart from 3D models, I have been going through similar professional works including AR Zines & popular magazines to match the design elements and aesthetics that would fit best our zine. We are not only focused on revamping the visuals and aesthetics but also the ease of usability and mobility to make a smoother user experience. I am deeply focused on the user interface aspect mainly because people are still getting used to AR, and not everything from our creative perspective could resonate due to technical limitations. Keeping that in mind, we are trying to make this project as simple to comprehend as possible, but at the same time maintaining the “wow” factor and making our users more comfortable with interactive technology.