Image of Orion prototype by Meta
Introduction
Historical Parallel: AR and the iPhone Revolution: Start by setting the stage with a comparison between the release of Meta’s Orion prototype and the iPhone’s debut in 2007. Just as the iPhone ushered in an era of smartphones and revolutionized social media, marketing, and communication, AR glasses could be the next major technological shift.
From an Industrial Designer’s Perspective: As an industrial designer, the introduction of AR into everyday consumer life is not just about hardware—it’s about transforming how we interact with products, services, and each other. This shift has major implications for marketing, user experience, and how businesses design for consumer engagement in an augmented world.
Image sourced from TechCrunch
The Evolution of Consumer Interaction: A Shift from 2D to 3D Experiences
iPhone’s Impact on Social Media and Communication: The iPhone’s introduction led to a radical change in how companies communicated with consumers, through mobile apps, social media, and personalized content. It flattened the digital landscape, allowing people to access and create content instantly.
AR’s Evolution of Interaction: AR, as introduced by Meta’s Orion prototype, will take this further. Instead of interacting through 2D screens, consumers will engage in 3D environments, with products, advertisements, and social media experiences appearing as immersive layers in their physical space.
Image generated in Midjourney
Example from an Industrial Designer’s POV: Imagine designing a product where users can “try before they buy,” not just through AR on a phone but with AR glasses that project life-sized, interactable objects into their environment. This type of interaction will drastically alter product design, marketing strategies, and how companies tailor experiences to consumer needs.
How AR Could Transform Social Media and Marketing
The New Social Media Landscape: Social media evolved around the iPhone, enabling instant photo sharing, status updates, and live-streaming. With AR, the next iteration of social platforms will likely revolve around shared augmented spaces—where users will not just post content but interact with digital elements overlaid on the real world.
Example: An influencer using AR glasses could guide followers through a virtual fashion show or home tour, where users can tap on items they see and instantly shop for them, enhancing social commerce in unprecedented ways.
Interactive Advertising and Marketing: Just as the iPhone revolutionized targeted mobile advertising, AR will enable interactive ads that engage consumers in their physical space. Companies will be able to create immersive campaigns where users can interact with digital versions of products, transforming the way brands market.
Images generated in Midjourney
Example from Business Perspective: For industrial designers, this means designing products with marketing integration in mind. A product’s physical appearance might now be complemented by its AR representation, and designers will need to think about how products look and function in both physical and digital worlds.
In-Store AR Experiences: Redefining Retail Design
The iPhone and Mobile Shopping: The iPhone made mobile shopping seamless, allowing people to browse and purchase items from anywhere. It also led to the rise of digital wallets and loyalty programs.
AR and the Future of Retail: With AR glasses, consumers will experience in-store shopping in entirely new ways. Imagine walking into a store, and the AR glasses instantly show you product reviews, customer ratings, or personalized promotions floating next to the items you’re interested in. This makes shopping more intuitive and informed.
From an Industrial Designer's POV: Designers will need to rethink retail spaces, integrating AR technology into the shopping experience. Store layouts might evolve to focus less on physical products and more on interactive AR displays, allowing for smaller physical footprints but richer consumer experiences.
For Businesses: Companies will need to create AR-compatible product designs and develop content for these digital layers. The role of industrial designers expands into curating the digital aspects of the shopping experience, in addition to the physical products.
Image sourced from Meta illustrating the AR functionality.
Conclusion
The Cultural Shift of AR: Just as the iPhone changed the way we interact with the world, Meta’s Project Orion and AR glasses are poised to do the same. From shopping and social media to in-store experiences and product design, AR will integrate digital and physical realities, reshaping communication, marketing, and design for both businesses and consumers.
From an Industrial Designer’s Perspective: As designers, we are at the forefront of this change, not just creating physical objects but crafting experiences that blend the real and virtual worlds. It’s an exciting time for those who are ready to embrace AR’s full potential in shaping the future of business and consumer engagement.
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