Lens Uaki Akamai AR by Yuxuan Hua is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Kala in Hoʻolālā ʻIkepili ʻAʻahu Competition Category.

KalaʻIkepili ʻAʻahu· 2025

Lens Uaki Akamai AR

by Yuxuan Hua

A' Design Award Kala Winner in ʻIkepili ʻAʻahu Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #166878

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Lens Uaki Akamai AR

ʻO Lens he uaki AR no nā huakaʻi hoʻokuʻi ma waho, e hui pū ana i ka māmā me ka maʻalahi. ʻOiai nā mea hana AR e like me nā makaaniani akamai a me nā kelepona akamai e like me mea e hoʻopilikia ana a e hoʻopauahana ana paha i ka ʻimi ʻike, hāʻawi ʻo Lens i kahi koho maʻalahi. Ke kāhiko ʻia e like me he uaki, loaʻa nā hiʻohiʻona AR o Lens i ka wā e pono ai, ʻaʻole e hoʻopilikia a makaukau mau. Ua hoʻolālā ʻia e paʻa ʻia e like me kahi pahu nānā maka hoʻokahi kuʻuna, wehe ʻia he honua hou me ka ʻike i hoʻonui ʻia: e ʻike i nā mea ola, e ʻimi i nā ala hou, a i ʻole e wehe i nā hōkūpae. Hui pū maʻalahi ʻo Lens i ka manaʻo hoʻomanaʻo o ka loaʻa ʻana o ka ʻike ʻōpetika me ka hauʻoli o ka ʻimi ʻike o kēia au.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Kala

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Lens Uaki Akamai AR i ka A' Design Award Kala, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kiʻekiʻe loa, nani a kupaianaha. He mau hana ʻālohilohi loa a hana noʻeau nui nā lanakila Kala e hōʻike ana i ka loea, ka makakoho a me ka ʻoi aku o ka noʻonoʻo o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Lens Uaki Akamai AR he hana kupaianaha, kūlana ʻoi aku, ʻoihana kiʻekiʻe a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Kala he mea hoʻokumu kūpono loa, mahalo ʻia e hāʻawi i ka pōmaikaʻi a hoʻoneʻe i nā palena o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana. He mea i ʻeleu ʻia e nā mea he nui ka hoʻolālā Lens Uaki Akamai AR e hoʻāla i ka makemake, lawe mai i nā manaʻo maikaʻi a hoʻāla i ka kamahaʻo a me ka mahalo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Lens is an AR smartwatch for immersive outdoor adventures, blending spontaneity with simplicity. Unlike intrusive AR tools like smart glasses or smartphones, Lens offers a seamless alternative. Worn like a watch, its AR features are unobtrusive and ready when needed. Designed to be held like a monocular, Lens unveils a world of augmented content, merging the nostalgia of telescopic discovery with the thrill of modern exploration.
Dimensions & Packaging: *Dimensions*
-Watch Diameter: 48mm (ideal for a balance of functionality and portability)
-Thickness: 20mm
-Weight: 68g
Tags: Augmented Reality, Smartwatch, Outdoor, Monocular, AR, Wearable Technologies
Production Technology: Lens was designed with a focus on ergonomic comfort and seamless functionality. Crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum for durability and lightweight wear, it features advanced AR projection, a wide FOV camera for immersive visuals, and a compact LiDAR for precise spatial mapping. The quick-detach mechanism enhances versatility, while extensive prototyping and real-world testing ensured optimal performance for outdoor exploration.
Research: We interviewed hikers, foragers, and stargazers to uncover their main frustrations with outdoor AR apps:

1.Devices were too bulky to carry comfortably.
2.Many were too fragile for rugged environments.
3.Frequent screen interactions disrupted the flow of exploration.

And these insights guided our design:

1.A quick-detach mechanism.
2.Intuitive monocular-holding gesture for seamless AR interaction.
3.A capacitive haptic button enabling both simple and complex controls.
4.An integrated haptic motor to reduce cognitive load, letting users stay focused on their surroundings.
Inspiration: Lens was inspired by the age-old act of sighting through telescopes, reimagined for the modern adventurer. Designed to be held like a traditional monocular, it blends the nostalgia of optical discovery with cutting-edge AR technology. Addressing the shortcomings of other AR tools - like the intrusiveness of glasses or the disruption of smartphones - Lens enhances exploration with instant, unobtrusive insights while preserving the spontaneity of outdoor adventures.
Project Duration: Lens began during the pandemic in 2021, driven by a desire to enhance connections and exploration during a unique time. After two years of development, it was completed in December 2023, ready to redefine how we engage with the world around us.
Operation Flow: Lens works seamlessly as a smartwatch and transforms into an AR monocular when removed from the wrist. Interaction is intuitive - simply hold it up to access features like navigation, identification, and stargazing. Key frames include wrist-worn mode for portability and monocular mode for immersive AR. Its unobtrusive design outperforms other tools by delivering instant insights without disrupting the natural experience, ensuring spontaneity and immersion.