Designing for AR: Lessons from Wonder Partners

From 2018 to 2021 I worked as a 3D Augmented Reality Artist at Wonder Partners. I created and optimized high-quality 2D and 3D assets for AR projects, and I learned more about efficiency there than anywhere else.

Real Time Changes the Rules

In offline rendering you can throw millions of polygons at a frame. In AR, the scene has to run live on someone’s phone, next to their coffee, in unpredictable light.

My AR Checklist

Every asset I built had to pass three tests before it shipped.

1. Lightweight: Low polygon counts and smart texture atlases without visible compromises.

2. Readable: Clear shapes and colors that work in any real-world environment.

3. Delightful: A small moment of surprise that makes people want to share it.

Designing With the User

AR is interactive by nature. People walk around objects, get close and move their phones fast. I learned to design for every angle, not just the hero shot.

What I Carry Forward

Those constraints still shape how I work today, even on high-end CGI.

Efficient scenes render faster, iterate faster and adapt more easily to new platforms.

If you’re planning an AR experience, I’d love to help you make it feel effortless.