Viral AR Experiments - 2 Billion Views

In 2022, I became curious about augmented reality. Social media filters felt like the most accessible entry point, so I started with Meta Spark Studio for Instagram and then discovered TikTok's new tool, Effect House, which was running a global AR contest.

I learned the platform quickly and launched two filters. One of them - an AR game where users catch flying gingerbread cookies with their mouth - won an Honor's Award and a cash prize from TikTok. Shortly after, Lens List featured me in their XR Creators to Follow series and later invited me to their AR Battle, which I won.

I kept experimenting. I combined 3D modeling, animation, face tracking, sound design, UI, and algorithmic logic to build playful and surprising effects and games. My filters started to go viral, reaching hundreds of millions of views - and one in particular, where a cockroach crawls across your face, eats your eyebrows, and disappears into your nose, exploded with over 1 billion views.

TikTok noticed and featured my work, recognizing me among the top 1% of creators and top 1% of performing filters globally. They especially appreciated the creativity, humor, and intuitive user experience of my filters. As a result, they offered me an ambassador contract, which provided access to experimental tools, brand collaborations, and early software updates.

I eventually moved on from AR filters, but the experience taught me the value of experimentation and how playful design can spark massive engagement.