I was given the opportunity to make an exhibit to showcase WanderLens. With a budget of $1000, I effectively created an immersive exhibit that showcases both my photography work and WanderLens as a full-working prototype. Visitors were enthused and excited to see my showcase. More notably, people enjoyed using the VR prototype where they had the ability to immerse themselves right into a location of their choice.

I find myself diving into tons of reviews of what the authentic experience is like for photographers like me. I can’t tell you how many times I have traveled to a location only to realize the area forbids professional photography of any kind without a permit! This along with accessibility problems have been a common issue when finding the perfect place to take pictures at.

Visitors aren’t the only ones with travel issues, property owners also find themselves frustrated with miscommunication regarding what is allowed at specific locations. This unfortunately leads to trash and vandalism at sites. Ultimately, searching for locations to take pictures is still very difficult. With a lack of property knowledge beforehand, both visitors and property owners have a frustrating time.

To emphasize visual perspective, users can explore a location in its entirety through 360-degree imaging using a VR headset. Unlike the mobile app, the VR experience offers users a highly realistic and precise representation of the scene. Complete with detailed visuals and immersive sound, making them feel as if they are truly there. This approach ensures users receive precise visual cues about the location which is what makes this feature so important.

Wanderlens also offers a range of information such as descriptions, weather, best time to be there, parking information, rules, and reviews which can be accessed on both the mobile app and the virtual reality experience. This eliminates the tedious task of searching for additional information online.

To justify the design decisions I have made with WanderLens, I gathered insights that helped me figure out what was most needed in my solution. I first went out to study how photographers find ideal locations.

In this experiment, I had a proficient photographer try to locate and recreate a specific photo along with giving them the liberty to find it however they choose. I asked the photographer to search throughout the valley and recreate the photo shown below. And after about an hour searching the valley, Based on his performance, it drew me to the conclusion that omnidirectional visuals would change the game.

Photographers Methods

• Area had too many terrain similarities

• Not Enough varied perspectives

Photographers Methods

• Compared sun positions from the photo,

• Attempted to terrain match on Google Maps

In my second experiment, I delve into what makes a location unique. My findings revealed that people associate places with relationships and personal experiences. Some locations hold significance due to past events, which motivates people to visit less popular spots. With the right context and information provided, visitors showcase more respect for these destinations.

Finally, I revisited the topic of inspiration for other exploration apps like Explorest, which offers sought-after travel destination coordinates. This app has influenced the development of Wanderlens and how it appeals to photographers. Another app called Sky Guide, a star tracker app utilizing AR, has inspired Wanderlens' approach to making use of 360-degree panorama movement using the device’s compass.

Ultimately, I envision Wanderlens to be a great tool for photographers to better prepare for what’s to come before they head to their destination. This project has helped me understand what I wanted out of being a UX Designer. I realized that I thrive in projects that associate with topics that I resonate with. WanderLens was the perfect project for me to showcase my passion for both design and photography. I can't wait to continue my journey as a designer and push myself further into areas that bring the best out of myself.