Augmented reality combines computer-generated virtual elements with the real world. Unlike virtual reality, AR enhances a person's perception of the real world instead of replacing it entirely. Snap, the company behind Snapchat, recognized the potential of AR early on.

In 2015, they released Lenses, which have been one of the most popular features of the product ever since. In their S-1 document from 2017, they described themselves as a camera company, not a social company or a software company. And their continued investment in AR experiences makes Snapchat probably the most used AR-centric product ever.

Today, James chats with Stephanie Engle, a Product Design Lead at Snap who focuses on many of their AR products, including Shopping Lenses, which shipped at the end of 2022.

Stephanie Engle is a designer at Snap, where she is working on AR, cameras, and toys.

Prior to working at Snap, she was a Product Designer at Facebook, the first Product Designer at Cruise, and an Experience Designer at Airbnb.

Stephanie Engle

James Evans

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