Bugpedia

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  All of the bug ID cards!

Inspiration

Recently, I've developed an interest in bugs due to the amount of cute bug videos and illustrations I've seen! Due to them being so different from humans and animals, many people dismiss bugs as unappealing, but I wanted to challenge that perception as they also have so many interesting things about them! I really liked the idea of putting a bug-catching experience in parks, school playgrounds, and museums as I felt in these locations, people would be more open/and have more incentive to try out this experience!

What Bugpedia Does

Bugpedia is an AR bug-catching experience designed for all ages. By scanning the Aero QR code, users can immerse themselves in this experience within a park. Upon launching the app, users encounter five waypoints, guiding them to specific locations. Once within the set radius, the waypoint disappears, encouraging users to locate the bug on their own. Each bug offers a unique interaction, ranging from audio to animation.

Bugpedia currently features five bugs:

• Cecropia Moth (wing flapping animation, wing flapping audio)
• Blue Morpho Butterfly (wing flapping animation, wing flapping audio)
• Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle (horn moving animation)
• 17-Year Cicada (body moving animation, cicada audio)
• Stick Insect (body moving animation)

Users can view the bugs in 360 degrees, attempting to catch them—some bugs are more challenging than others. Upon successful capture, the bug disappears, and users receive an ID card providing information about the caught bug.

Returning to the center of the experience, the user's bug collection updates, and they can click on unlocked bugs to revisit the corresponding ID cards.

How I Built It

Bugpedia was built using Adobe Aero. I created the 3D models, and then rigged and animated them manually with Blender. Textures and illustrations were hand-painted in Adobe Photoshop, and the UI was created in Figma.

Challenges Faced

Although Adobe Aero is more straightforward, I still ran into a lot more problems and constraints compared to my initial understanding of the software. By chaining events incorrectly or calling an object to do different things, it was really easy to run into unexpected behaviors or limitations.

Accomplishments I’m Proud Of

I’m proud of creating all of the assets as well as creating layers of AR interaction in the experience!

What I Learned

This project marked my first time using Adobe Aero, and I enjoyed learning through tutorials. It also allowed me to revisit rigging skills I hadn't used in a while. Furthermore, I got to learn a lot more in-depth about the bugs in this experience!

What's Next for Bugpedia

The next steps for Bugpedia include adding more bugs beyond the ones initially featured in this experience. I would like to reach out and collaborate with museums, schools, or city parks to bring Bugpedia to these places, offering an opportunity to give visitors a new unique, and engaging activity!

Built With

• adobeaero
• adobephotoshop
• blender
• figma