What is AR?

In case you haven’t fully experienced it yet, augmented reality overlays digital elements—images, text, sounds—on top of the real world. It’s not the fully immersive experience of virtual reality (VR), but rather a layer that adds useful (or entertaining) information to your real-world environment. Imagine looking at a building through your phone’s camera and instantly seeing its history, or trying on clothes in a virtual fitting room before making a purchase.

AR is being used across industries—from retail to real estate and education—and is starting to make its way into more daily interactions, like helping users visualize home renovations, translating signs in real-time, or even navigating through airports with ease. While AR’s potential for enhancing UX is already significant, this is just the beginning.

Why AR Matters for UX

AR is shifting the paradigm of UX from flat screens and menus to a dynamic, interactive environment. This evolution will require UX designers to rethink how users interact with technology and how to design intuitive, functional interfaces that go beyond traditional 2D layouts.

Think about it—AR changes the way users perceive information. Instead of clicking through a series of buttons and scrolling, AR could allow users to physically interact with their surroundings to engage with content. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for designing immersive experiences that feel more natural, intuitive, and user-centered.

For instance, imagine an AR-powered museum tour where instead of reading text plaques, visitors can point their phones at an artifact and have interactive videos or 3D models appear, bringing history to life. AR can guide the user through their environment in real time, offering contextual information exactly when and where it’s needed.

AR in Retail and Navigation

We’ve seen early AR adopters in retail—brands like IKEA and Sephora have embraced AR as a way to let users visualize products before purchasing. You can now see how that couch will fit in your living room or try out a new lipstick virtually. The beauty of AR in retail is its potential to reduce friction in the buying process, minimizing returns and helping users feel more confident in their purchases.

In navigation, AR is transforming how we get from point A to point B. Google Maps now features an AR mode where digital arrows are overlaid on the street view, showing you exactly which direction to walk. Instead of the cognitive dissonance that comes from switching between a map and the real world, AR allows the two to merge—making navigation feel effortless and more user-friendly.

Challenges in AR UX Design

While the future of AR in UX design is incredibly exciting, it doesn’t come without its challenges. Some of the biggest hurdles UX designers will need to address include:

1. Contextual Awareness

One of the trickiest parts of AR design is creating an experience that enhances the real world rather than distracts from it. Designers must be highly aware of the context in which users are interacting with AR. For example, if you’re designing an AR app for outdoor navigation, you’ll need to consider the brightness of sunlight or the unpredictability of the weather. Similarly, indoor AR experiences must account for factors like lighting, space constraints, and how much information a user can digest without feeling overwhelmed.

2. Physical Interaction

Traditional UX design focuses on digital buttons, links, and swipe gestures. AR, on the other hand, encourages users to physically interact with their surroundings. Designing AR interfaces requires a new mindset. How do users interact with virtual objects in a way that feels natural and intuitive? Gestures, eye-tracking, and even voice commands are becoming more central to the conversation. UX designers will need to think beyond 2D screens and start considering 3D space and the physicality of interactions.

3. Device Limitations

While AR technology is advancing quickly, we still face hardware limitations—battery life, processing power, and user comfort. AR experiences, especially those that involve prolonged use, can drain a device’s battery quickly. Designers will need to find a balance between crafting rich, immersive AR experiences and maintaining efficiency. The key is to design lightweight AR interactions that are meaningful but don’t overwhelm the device or the user.

The Future: AR and Multisensory UX

Looking forward, AR’s future in UX will likely push designers to think beyond visuals. We’re already seeing early integrations of haptic feedback (vibrations) and audio cues, but what happens when the technology evolves to include elements like scent, temperature, or even touch? The potential for creating fully immersive, multisensory experiences opens new doors for UX designers to craft more engaging, memorable experiences.

Imagine walking into a coffee shop and seeing a virtual menu appear on your table, feeling the warmth of a virtual coffee cup, and even getting a hint of the coffee aroma. Or picture an online shopping experience where you can virtually “feel” the fabric of a shirt before purchasing. These future developments will make UX experiences more tactile and connect even more deeply to the user’s senses.

AR UX in Everyday Use

The good news? AR isn’t just about futuristic tech anymore—it’s already starting to become part of our everyday interactions. Companies like Apple and Google have heavily invested in AR development through their ARKit and ARCore platforms, making it easier for designers and developers to experiment with and create AR experiences. Snapchat and Instagram have brought AR into the mainstream with their filters, showing how AR can make even simple interactions more fun and engaging.

One example is Apple’s Measure app, which uses AR to allow users to measure real-world objects simply by pointing their phone at them. This is a perfect illustration of how AR is moving toward utility-driven design, helping users solve real-world problems in an efficient way.

In the education sector, AR is transforming how students learn. Textbooks and apps are beginning to integrate AR to allow students to interact with 3D models of the solar system, dissect virtual frogs, or see historical events unfold before their eyes. It’s an interactive and dynamic way to bring information to life and make learning more engaging.

The Double-Edged Sword: AR in Marketing and Distractions

With the rise of AR, one challenge for UX designers is avoiding information overload or distractions. There’s a risk that users may become overwhelmed if AR is used excessively or inappropriately—leading to cognitive fatigue. Designers need to think critically about where and when to introduce AR elements into the user’s journey, ensuring that these additions enhance rather than clutter the experience.

For instance, while AR ads or product overlays can be highly engaging, they need to be integrated thoughtfully. It’s essential to maintain a balance between immersiveness and usability, ensuring that AR elements don’t detract from the primary goals of the user.

Conclusion: AR as the Future of UX

The future of UX isn’t just about creating smoother digital interfaces—it’s about crafting immersive, real-world interactions that blend seamlessly into the user’s environment. AR is setting the stage for a new kind of user experience, one where users engage with digital content on a whole new level. For UX designers, this means rethinking how we approach design challenges and embracing the evolving nature of user interactions.

As AR technology continues to improve and become more accessible, UX designers will play a crucial role in making these experiences intuitive, helpful, and user-friendly. The key is to balance immersion with simplicity, ensuring that AR enhances the user experience without overwhelming it. It’s a future filled with endless possibilities—and I can’t wait to see how it evolves.