Building an AR Car Exhibition App: My Journey and Insightful Reactions

Apple Developer Academy

Apanda Saragih
4 min readJun 6, 2023

Introduction

Developing an AR car exhibition app has been an exhilarating and transformative journey for me. With a tight deadline and a focus on leveraging AR technology, I embarked on creating an immersive experience for users. In this article, I will share my experiences, the technologies I used, and the valuable reactions I received during the “Spring Market” exhibition.

Choosing AR Technology and Meeting the Deadline

Given the task to develop an app with AR capabilities, I saw the potential in creating a captivating car exhibition experience using Apple’s ARKit framework. With a limited timeframe of less than two weeks and a busy work schedule, I faced the challenge of meeting the deadline. Despite these constraints, I remained focused and dedicated (in one night hehehehe 😅), utilizing my time efficiently to deliver a functional AR car exhibition app.

Developing Journey

Embarking on the journey to develop an AR car exhibition app was a thrilling experience filled with creativity and technical challenges. In this article, I will share the step-by-step process I followed, from finding the idea to enhancing the app with real-size car models using Reality Composer. Each stage brought its own unique insights and learning opportunities.

  1. Finding the Idea: Sparking Creativity The initial step in developing the app was finding the right idea that would engage users and showcase the potential of AR technology. After two days of brainstorming and exploration, I decided to create a Car Exhibition App, offering users an immersive experience with virtual car models.
  2. Designing the User Interface: Bringing the App to Life To bring the app to life, I focused on designing a visually appealing user interface. I invested time and effort into creating the homepage, catalog car view, and car detail view. This stage allowed me to unleash my creativity and ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience.
  3. Sourcing USDZ Car Models: Enriching the Content With the UI in place, I embarked on the search for USDZ car models available on the internet. I scoured various sources to find a diverse range of car models, aiming to provide users with a comprehensive collection to explore within the app. This step involved careful evaluation and selection to curate the best car models for the exhibition.
  4. Implementing USDZ Models: Bridging the Virtual and Real Worlds Once I acquired the USDZ car models, I focused on integrating them into the AR experience. Leveraging the power of ARKit, I implemented the USDZ models into the app, allowing users to access and interact with virtual cars through their device’s camera. This crucial step bridged the gap between the virtual and real worlds, immersing users in a captivating augmented reality experience.
  5. Enhancing with Reality Composer: Bringing Real-Size Realism To elevate the realism of the virtual car models, I turned to Reality Composer. This powerful tool enabled me to adjust the car models to their real-world size, ensuring a more accurate representation. By fine-tuning the models using Reality Composer, I created an enhanced AR experience that closely matched the physical dimensions of the actual cars.

Spring Market Exhibition

The “Spring Market” exhibition was a much-anticipated event where learners from my academy showcased their completed apps. It provided an excellent opportunity to present my AR car exhibition app to a wider audience. During the exhibition, attendees had the chance to experience the app firsthand, explore virtual car models, and engage with the immersive AR environment. What made the event particularly memorable were the reactions and feedback I received from my friends and fellow learners.

Insightful Reactions and Impressive Feedback

At the “Spring Market” exhibition, I witnessed firsthand the impact my AR car exhibition app had on users. The reactions I received ranged from excitement and awe to admiration for the immersive experience. Users were particularly impressed by the lifelike representation of the virtual car models and the interactive nature of the app. Their reactions validated the efforts I had put into creating a captivating user experience.

In addition to the positive reactions, I also received constructive criticism and valuable feedback from my friends and fellow learners. Their insights and suggestions provided me with a fresh perspective on how to enhance future projects. The diverse range of comments and critiques allowed me to reflect on my app’s strengths and areas for improvement, even though the exhibition marked the completion of the project.

The Value of User Reactions and Beyond

While the “Spring Market” exhibition marked the final milestone for the AR car exhibition app, the reactions and feedback I received had lasting value. Witnessing the excitement and engagement of users with my app was a validation of my efforts and dedication. The constructive criticism sparked new ideas and considerations for future projects. The reactions and comments I received during the exhibition served as a reminder of the power of technology to captivate and impress users.

Conclusion

Building an AR car exhibition app within a tight timeline and showcasing it at the “Spring Market” exhibition provided a transformative experience. The reactions and feedback I received during the event served as an affirmation of my app’s ability to engage and impress users. While the exhibition marked the completion of the project, the valuable insights gained from user reactions will continue to inspire and guide me in future app development endeavors.

Thanks!!

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