Top 25 Disruptive Augmented Reality Use Cases

Augmented Reality (AR) adds virtual interactive experiences in real-world objects. It uses computer-generated perceptual information to enhance users’ sensory experience in a Dimensional Digital World. The majority of AR users are 16-34 years age and 73% of them have expressed deep-satisfaction with their mobile AR experiences. Here’s a gigantic list of augmented reality use cases!

Transportation

With features like 3D navigation, driving directions, and visuals of terrains augmented reality is taking the transportation industry to a new dimension. Technically, AR is capable of projecting information on any surface.

#WayRay

WayRay’s Navion tool projects navigation instructions on the windshield. It uses a holographic optical element to create real AR experience without the need for special eye-wear or headgear.

#AeroGlass

Aero Glass’ AR headsets display VFR (Visual Flight Rules) navigation for airports, cities, villages, airspace, and terrains. It is a great aid for pilots to decide landing approaches, especially when clouds and fog reduce visibility. And, of course, visual cues explain the scenario better than audio instructions.

Mobile Commerce

The current generation is way ahead of the E-commerce era and dwelling in the world of mobile commerce. Here consumers can purchase products through their hand-held devices. Brands are using AR to improve customer interaction on their mobile app.

#Manor

Manor, a Swiss department store chain introduced 48 pages augmented catalogue. With a simple scan, users can instantly shop or extract product information, ‘how to use’ guide, etc. from the catalogue.

Augmented Reality Use Cases in Manufacturing, Engineering & Warehousing

AR-enabled wearables in manufacturing can help measure changes, identify unsafe working conditions, and visualize design components and structures. With field-service knowledge engineers and technicians can monitor the field and provide remote expert support in real-time. Organizations are also using AR to improve productivity in out-of-office or away-from-desk jobs.

#National Water Company, Israel

Israel’s National Water Company uses AR smart glasses and mobile app platform to superimpose markings, messages, and diagrams directly onto the engineer’s field of view.

#Boeing

Boeing’s Engineering division is using Skylight AR Glasses, a wearable alternative to finding instructions on laptops or papers.

“We now want to introduce AR into the services part of our business so we may service our own, and third-party products, for our end-customers.”
Ted Colbert, CIO, The Boeing Company

#Atheer

Atheer offers real-time service resolution through step-by-step task guidance.

#Ubimax

Ubimax has developed AR glasses (wearables) to provide pickers route guidance in warehouses.

AR Use Cases in Healthcare

AR can provide visual prosthetics and is helping the healthcare sector in many ways. Researchers and doctors are aspiring to perform complex surgeries with AR.

#NuEyes

NuEyes uses special AR glasses to help people with visual impairment. Using AR glasses, people can accomplish day-to-day computer work, traveling within airports, Ubers, and other cities.

#AccuVein

AccuVein is using AR’s tracking feature to spot veins while inserting IVs. It is making clinical processes (viz. cosmetics, vascular, and blood-draw) more accurate.

#Sahlgrenska University Hospital Research on Phantom Limbs Pain

The Chalmers University of Technology in collaboration with Sahlgrenska University Hospital have successfully tested augmented reality to reduce phantom limb pain felt by amputees.

Augmented Reality Use Cases in Education

Academic institutions are using AR for interactive in-depth training.

#Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University trains human anatomy and surgery through 3D human models.

#Jaguar X Bosch

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) trains employees to assemble and repair with more than ‘X-Ray’ vision of the car. This saves the time and effort of reinstalling the entire dashboard of the Range Rover Sport vehicle.

#AR Flashcards

Edshelf’s AR Flashcard is making learning interactive and engaging for toddlers. Pointing smartphone at printed flashcard pops-up a 3D object on the screen.

In-store Experience

In the quest for customer-engagement, companies are deploying AR to bring immersive experiences.

#Starbucks

Starbucks Roastery at Shanghai gives visual cues like a hummingbird flying across the walls, baristas handcrafting beverages in contemporary and vintage brewing devices, Princi bakers baking bread, and much more.

“It’s like Alice in Wonderland meets Willy Wonka.”
Emily Chang, Sr. VP & CMO, Starbucks, China.

Home Decor

Brands are harnessing 3D rendering features of AR to provide a test-view for customers. AR can merge and position digital items into the real-landscapes. Thus, instead of impulsive buying, customers can test and “be sure” of their purchase decision.

#IKEA

IKEA allows users to view furniture from different angles on its app – Ikea Place. Post reviewing, customers can proceed to buy the product from the same app.

#Estiluz

Estiluz uses AR to project virtual lighting into the real-world. The app requires users to print and place ‘markers’ at places where they want to test the lighting. Estiluz app detects the marker and demonstrates how particular lighting will look at that place.

#Home Depot – Project Color

With Home Depot’s Project-Color App users can see how a wall color will look. The app portrays a real picture considering shadows, lightings and objects in the room.

AR Use Cases in Retail

BRP reports, by 2020, nearly 50% of customers would be more likely to shop at a retailer that utilizes augmented reality. Retailers are deploying AR for 3D virtual trials on clothing, compile in-store information, and to build brand authority through unique experiences.

#LensKart

Lenskart allows users to experience a 3D Try-on of its glasses using AR.

#Lacoste

Lacoste utilizes the tracking feature of AR to let their users try on different shoes virtually.

#Sephora

Users can try different makeup on their photo in the Virtual Artist App from Sephora. The app bridges the gap between product trial and purchase.

#Zara

By positioning the smartphone at Zara’s graphic signage, mannequins seemingly come to life in people’s screen displays. Customers can purchase their look in a single touch on the Zara AR app.

Gaming

The gaming industry is an early adopter of AR technology. Gaming only brought people’s attention towards AR on a commercial scale.

#Pokémon GO- Mobile Game

The game incorporates 3D visuals of virtual creatures (Pokémon). Using the player’s mobile device GPS, the game locates, captures, battles and trains Pokémon in a real-world location.

Augmented Reality Use Cases in Marketing

Marketers are rolling out AR-based campaigns to amplify the brands’ perception among consumers. AR is not only helping brands harness customer engagement, but also promote the product to a wider customer base.

#Airwalk

In a campaign to promote the relaunch of limited-edition Jim shoes, Airwalk used geolocation (an AR feature) to create invisible pop-up shops.

#Stubhub

For Super Bowl LII, StubHub rolled out an AR feature on its mobile app allowing ticket buyers to see a virtual 3D model of the U.S. Bank Stadium.

#Pepsi

In 2014, Pepsi introduced an augmented reality bus stop campaign to give commuters an unbelievable moment in their day.

Market and market research states, growing at a CAGR of 40%, Augmented
Reality applications will explode in the near future and reach $61.39 bn in revenue by 2023.

We specialize in developing industry-specific interactive products and solutions. Drop us a hello at hello@mantralabsglobal.com for queries related to augmented reality.

In the world of product design, consistency is the cornerstone of delivering a seamless user experience. As digital products evolve and scale, the challenge of maintaining design consistency across multiple platforms, teams, and touchpoints becomes more complex. This is where design systems come in. A design system is a comprehensive set of guidelines, components, and tools that help designers and developers create a consistent and cohesive user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). From a designer’s perspective, building and maintaining a design system requires a strategic approach to ensure scalability, flexibility, and alignment with business goals.

Source: https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/design-system)

Why Design Systems Matter?

Design systems are more than just style guides or pattern libraries. They offer a unified language for design and development, bridging the gap between creativity and functionality. Here are a few reasons why they are critical:

Consistency Across Products

One of the primary goals of a design system is to ensure uniformity across different platforms and devices. When users interact with a product, whether on a website or a mobile app, they expect a consistent experience. A well-implemented design system ensures that visual elements, interactions, and behaviors are aligned, offering a familiar and intuitive experience for users.

2. Faster Iteration

With a design system in place, teams can reuse components and patterns rather than reinventing the wheel for each new feature. This speeds up the design and development process, allowing teams to focus on solving new problems instead of reworking existing designs. For designers, it means less time spent on repetitive tasks and more time dedicated to innovation.

3. Scalability

As products grow and new features are added, maintaining a coherent UI/UX without a design system can become chaotic. A design system provides a scalable framework, enabling teams to add new elements or modules without compromising the overall consistency of the product.

4. Improved Collaboration

A design system fosters collaboration between designers, developers, and other stakeholders by providing a shared language and reference point. This ensures that design decisions are communicated effectively, reducing friction and misunderstandings between teams.

Building a Design System: A Designer’s Perspective

Designing a system from scratch can seem like a daunting task, but with a clear roadmap and understanding of core principles, it becomes a powerful tool for creating scalable and user-centered products.

1. Define the Core Principles

Before diving into visual components, it’s essential to establish the core principles of your design system. These principles serve as the foundation and guide decision-making throughout the process. Ask yourself:

• What are the key values of your brand?

• How should the design reflect the needs and emotions of users?

• What goals are you trying to achieve with your design system (e.g., accessibility, flexibility, innovation)?

For instance, if accessibility is a top priority, you’ll need to ensure that your design system accommodates users with different abilities, by providing color contrast guidelines, clear typographic hierarchies, and accessible components.

2. Create a Unified Visual Language

Once the principles are established, the next step is creating a cohesive visual language. This includes defining elements such as:

• Color Palette: A well-structured color palette ensures harmony across different UI components. It’s crucial to include primary, secondary, and accent colors, along with usage guidelines to avoid inconsistency.

• Typography: Define a typography system that establishes hierarchies and clarity, including font styles, sizes, line heights, and spacing. Consistent typography helps users navigate content effortlessly.

• Spacing and Grids: An established grid system ensures a balanced layout and harmony between different UI elements. Proper spacing guidelines prevent crowded or misaligned components.

• Iconography and Illustrations: Design guidelines for icons and illustrations help maintain visual consistency. Icons should follow a standard style (outlined, filled) and size, ensuring they align with the overall visual language.

Iconography and Illustrations: Design guidelines for icons and illustrations help maintain visual consistency. Icons should follow a standard style (outlined, filled) and size, ensuring they align with the overall visual language.

Image Source: https://designerup.co/blog/10-best-design-systems-and-how-to-learn-and-steal-from-them/)

3. Design Reusable Components

A design system is incomplete without reusable UI components. These components include buttons, forms, modals, and navigation elements that can be used across various features and pages. Each component should be:

• Modular: Components should be flexible and adaptable for different contexts. For example, a button should have variations for different states (hover, active, disabled) and types (primary, secondary, destructive).

• Documented: Each component needs comprehensive documentation that explains how it should be used, its variants, and the rules governing its application. This ensures consistency when different team members use the same component.

4. Implement Accessibility Guidelines

Accessibility should be at the forefront of every design system. As a designer, consider:

• Color Contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background for readability.

• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that interactive components are navigable via keyboard for users who rely on keyboard shortcuts.

• Responsive Design: Components should be responsive, adapting seamlessly across different screen sizes and devices.

• Assistive Technologies: Design components should be compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies to provide an inclusive experience.

Maintaining a Design System: Evolving with the Product

Once a design system is in place, the work doesn’t stop there. Maintaining it requires ongoing effort as the product evolves and new design challenges emerge. Here’s how designers can ensure the design system remains relevant and effective:

1. Regular Audits and Updates

A design system should be treated as a living document that evolves with the product. Regular audits are necessary to identify outdated or unused components. Designers should collaborate with developers to ensure new features are aligned with the existing design system, and updates should be documented to avoid fragmentation.

2. Version Control and Documentation

Version control is essential for keeping track of changes in the design system. Documenting why and how changes are made ensures that the design system grows in an organized manner. It also helps onboard new team members quickly, as they can reference updated guidelines.

3. Foster Collaboration Across Teams

Designers need to maintain an open line of communication with developers and other teams using the design system. Tools like Figma, Sketch, and Zeplin allow designers to share components and guidelines in real-time, fostering collaboration and ensuring that everyone is aligned.

Some well-known examples of design systems that have set benchmarks in the industry:

1. Google Material Design

URL: Material Design
Overview: Google’s Material Design is one of the most comprehensive design systems available. It provides guidelines on how to create visual, motion, and interaction design across platforms and devices. Material Design is known for its grid-based layouts, responsive animations, and depth effects like shadows and lighting.
Features:
- Comprehensive color palettes, typography, and iconography.
- Extensive component library (buttons, cards, etc.).
- Customizable UI components for both web and mobile applications.

2. Salesforce Lightning Design System

URL: Salesforce Lightning
Overview: Salesforce’s Lightning Design System provides a comprehensive library of UI components and resources to help build applications on the Salesforce platform. It ensures a consistent experience across Salesforce products and enables developers to create custom apps easily.
Features:
- Ready-to-use components, design tokens, and code snippets.
- Comprehensive accessibility guidelines to ensure inclusivity.
- Detailed documentation for developers to integrate components into Salesforce applications.

3. Microsoft Fluent Design System

URL: Fluent Design
Overview: Fluent Design is Microsoft’s design system, created to provide an engaging and scalable UI across all Microsoft products. It is heavily focused on interaction, animation, and motion while ensuring accessibility across various device ecosystems.
Features:
- Focus on depth, motion, and light to create modern and interactive UIs.
- Cross-platform components supporting web, desktop, and mobile applications.
- Accessible components with detailed guidelines for developers.

Conclusion

Building and maintaining a design system is an investment that pays off in the long run. It ensures consistency across your product, improves collaboration between teams, and allows for faster iteration and scalability. For designers, a design system is more than a collection of reusable components — it’s a framework that enables you to create user-centric products with confidence and clarity. By embracing modularity, documentation, and accessibility, you’ll ensure that your design system remains a valuable asset as your product grows.

About the Author:

Shristi is a creative professional with a passion for visual storytelling. She recently transitioned from the world of video and motion graphics to the exciting field of product design at Mantra Labs. When she’s not designing, she enjoys watching movies, traveling, and sharing her experiences through vlogs.