Context: AR Filmmaker Tool for iPad
Role: Sr. Lead Product Designer · Tablet UI Specialist
Timeline: 2021 - 2022
The Third Floor - Cyclops AR
Redesigning Cyclops AR into a faster, clearer, award-winning filmmaking tool built for real production environments.
Cyclops AR is The Third Floor’s real-time AR visualization tool used by directors, VFX teams, and cinematographers to preview CG characters, creatures, sets, and props directly through an iPad’s camera. Unlike traditional simulcam rigs, Cyclops is completely mobile — making it a powerful companion for on-set blocking, scouting, and shot planning.
When I joined the team, Cyclops was already technically impressive, but the interface struggled under production pressure: dense menus, complex two-handed gestures, and slow asset navigation interrupted creative flow. My role was to redesign the tablet experience so filmmakers could work faster, collaborate better, and use Cyclops intuitively on high-stress film sets.
Cyclops is a streamlined simulcam solution, able to be deployed on hand-held devices. Using Cyclops, filmmakers and their teams can easily visualize CG assets at a real set or location and get a sense of the VFX action being shot.
01
Understanding the Current Needs
Why Filmmakers Needed Something Faster
Before redesigning anything, I interviewed directors, supervisors, and previs artists across multiple shows. Their workflow pain points were consistent:
Clunky simulcam rigs were too heavy and slow
Asset libraries were massive and hard to navigate
Two-handed tablet use was tiring during long shoots
AR alignment drifted between sessions
Multiple crew needed to use the tool interchangeably
To succeed, Cyclops needed to be portable like a tablet app, powerful like a previs system, and simple enough for any crew member to pick up instantly.
User Testing
This reel highlights real-world user testing of Cyclops, capturing directors and VFX teams interacting with the AR filmmaking tool. By observing hand placement, ergonomics, and gesture-driven inputs, we refined the interface for comfort and speed on set — ensuring Cyclops could be passed between crew members and used intuitively in high-pressure production environments.
02
Identifying Key Friction Points
Where Production Teams Struggled
Early audits and on-set observations surfaced critical UX issues:
Simulcam limitations — existing tools were bulky, non-mobile, and inaccessible to non-technical users
Ergonomics — two-handed use made prolonged sessions uncomfortable
Dense asset libraries — thousands of CG assets with slow lookup times
AR continuity — losing alignment every time the device restarted
Collaboration — Cyclops needed clear UI and fast onboarding for rotating crew
Complex controls — advanced compositing, lighting, and camera tools weren’t discoverable
These insights shaped the redesign toward clarity, modularity, and film-set speed.
Cyclops AR — Final Tablet Experience
03
Designing a Modern AR Filmmaking Experience
Making Advanced AR Feel Intuitive
The redesign focused on balancing professional-grade capability with effortless tablet usability.
What I Delivered
Ergonomic UI Patterns
Thumb-friendly controls, slide-out drawers, and comfortable two-handed layouts.Gesture-Driven Interactions
Simple tap + drag gestures for resets, rotations, and quick adjustments while filming.Responsive Asset System
Faster browsing with categories, filters, search, and an Outliner for large libraries.Persistent Anchoring
Clear flows for GPS, point-cloud, and object anchors to maintain CG alignment between takes.Streamlined AR Compositing
Easier access to depth comp, Chromakey, LiDAR holdouts, lighting, skies, and fog.Vcam Tools Made Intuitive
Reworked lens controls, joysticks, orbit/fly/teleport, and film-back matching.On-Device Testing Loops
Tested directly with directors and VFX teams to validate comfort and speed on set.
The result: Cyclops became faster to navigate, easier to operate under pressure, and significantly more comfortable for long shoot days.
04
Results & Impact
A Production-Ready AR Tool Used Across Film & TV
The redesigned Cyclops launched as a streamlined simulcam alternative — lightweight, mobile, and intuitive for anyone on set.
Production teams reported:
30% reduction in asset lookup time
Faster onboarding for new crew, even non-technical users
Improved coordination between directors, VFX, and camera teams
More accurate AR alignment through new anchoring flows
Better creative decision-making thanks to faster visualization loops
Cyclops won the 2021 Lumiere Award and became one of The Third Floor’s flagship virtual production tools — used globally across film, TV, and immersive productions.