Future designers embrace the challenge of augmented reality

Future designers embrace the challenge of augmented reality

Bachelor of Design students are creating their own animated projects courtesy of a French company providing a free educational licence to use its augmented reality software.

The Augment company’s app, Augment, allows students to visualise their 3D models in augmented reality on their mobile phones.

Senior Educator in the Centre of Communication and Design, Ondris Pui, said Augment provides the platform for his students to create content in a new six-week course on augmented reality in digital media.

“Presenting ideas in a 3D animated environment with text and sound makes design more interesting for students.

“Workplaces can use this technology for presentations and interactive campaigns,” he said.

Fruity - one of students augmented reality projectsFruity - one of students augmented reality projects

The students have come up with very creative ideas including Eggy, a Tamagotchi-style game developed by student Nguyen Tran Thi Thao, and Historium, an interactive game about history developed by Truong Thanh Hung.

Both students said at the beginning of the course the technology had been new to them and took time to learn, especially 3D design and coding.

Eggy - physical and augmented realityEggy - physical and augmented reality

Thao’s digital pet, Eggy, is for primary to early secondary school girls, an audience familiar with current and evolving technology.

“Through Eggy they can learn the responsibility involved with taking care of a digital pet,” Thao said.

“The original Tamagotchi was a limited game controlled by 3 buttons with no notification on the status of the beloved pet. Almost every day after school, my pet was dying due to my lack of attention.

“Eggy is a virtual character on mobile devices and a physical character. I'm currently developing a real life model that can notify users about the character's status.

“The model will be linked to the app via Bluetooth and will glow different colours to match Eggy's mood.”

Truong Thanh Hung said he created Historium wanting kids to learn history through a more immersive experience, interacting with what they learn instead of “learning like a parrot”.

“People love stories as novels, movies, animations and games but when it comes to history they just hate it,” Hung said.

“As a designer, I understand the importance of history to the future; that's why I want to change perceptions, especially kids’ perceptions.”

Students working on augmented reality projectsStudents working on augmented reality projects

Both students believe the course will help them as career designers.

“This technology will be common in a short time,” Hung said.

“I need to adapt to the changing world for my future career as a UI/UX designer. I’ve learnt it's not the technology that matters, it’s the reason behind it: designing and execution.” 

Story: Sharon Webb

22 June 2016

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