ITHB x HOVARLAY :
Shaping Future-Ready Designers Through Augmented Reality
Equipping Students With Hands-On AR Skills to Create, Experiment, and Build Interactive Experiences
How can creative education evolve to prepare students for the future of design?
At Institut Teknologi Harapan Bangsa (ITHB), HOVARLAY hosted its first Augmented Designer Workshop, a hands-on learning experience designed to introduce students to Augmented Reality (AR) as a creative medium, not just a technology.
This workshop marks an important step in bridging the gap between industry innovation and classroom learning, equipping students with practical skills that reflect the evolving demands of the creative industry.
Sector
- Event
Service
- No-code AR Platform
The Experience
From Learning to Creating
The workshop was designed to move beyond theory and into real-world application.
Students were introduced to HOVARLAY, Following this, students participated in a hands-on session, where they built their own AR experiences using HOVARLAY’s no-code platform.
Without writing a single line of code, students were able to:
• AR fundamentals and creative use cases
• best practices for interactive storytelling
• real industry examples of AR in branding and marketing
The Digital Transformation Journey
Challenge
Bridging Creative Education with Emerging Technology
Traditional design education often focuses on static outputs such as print, visuals, and digital media.
However, the industry is rapidly shifting toward interactive and immersive experiences, requiring students to think beyond conventional formats.
The challenge was to introduce AR in a way that is:
- accessible to non-technical students
- relevant to real industry applications
- engaging and easy to experiment with
Strategy
Making AR Accessible Through No-Code Creation
HOVARLAY introduced AR as a creative tool, not a technical barrier.
Using a no-code WebAR platform, students were guided through:
- understanding how AR works in real campaigns
- designing interactive experiences
- building and launching their own AR projects
This approach allowed students to focus on creativity and storytelling, rather than technical complexity.
Outcome
Hands-On Learning That Drives Engagement
The workshop brought together more than 50 students across multiple design disciplines, including:
- Digital Content Creation
- Exhibition Design
- Game Visual Design
- Hand Lettering
- Packaging Design
- Typeface Design
Each student actively participated in building their own AR experience, transforming abstract concepts into tangible, interactive outputs.
To conclude the session, participants received a certificate enhanced with AR, turning a traditional document into a memorable digital experience.
The Impact
Preparing Future-Ready Designers
The workshop demonstrates how AR can play a meaningful role in modern creative education.
• exposure to emerging creative tools
• experience in interactive design thinking
• confidence to explore new mediums
• understanding of real industry applications
The Result
The Augmented Designer Workshop highlights the value of collaboration between education institutions and industry partners.
The Augmented Designer Workshop highlights the value of collaboration between education institutions and industry partners.
By bringing real-world tools and insights into the classroom, students are better equipped to:
- adapt to industry demands
- expand their creative capabilities
- explore new career opportunities in interactive design
This initiative also reinforces the importance of creating more opportunities where students can learn, experiment, and innovate with emerging technology.
