AR talks | Isabelle Udo


In this entry of AR talks we are happy to present Isabelle Udo: AR creator and freshly graduated film director. We’ve had a chance to ask her some questions about her artistic background and the way she comes at creating AR filters.

Hi Isabelle! During our call you told us how excited you were about becoming a freelancer just two weeks ago. Could you tell us more about yourself and your artistic road up to this point?

I’m originally from the Netherlands. I graduated in Interactive Media Design back in 2014 but augmented reality was definitely not as well developed nor as well spread as it is now.

So I decided to continue my studies at the film academy in Brussels. In 2019 I graduated as an experimental film director. This was also the moment that Spark AR became available for everyone to use.

FL.ORAL, MEDUSA by vi.de.or.bit

I moved to Amsterdam and started a full time job as a motion graphics designer. In the evenings I would create filters and immerse myself in the community. Quite soon I realised how much I love seeing other people use and enjoy my filters. Gradually I spent more and more time on Spark AR. I’m definitely hooked.. But in a good way 🙂

So about a month ago I took the leap and decided to go freelance. It’s exciting to start this new chapter in my life!

We admire your courage and hope for your success! How does your background affect your AR artistic vision?

The two studies I did really helped me become the person I am now. Studying film tought me a lot about visual storytelling and creating coherent concepts. The interactive design study helped me get to know all the different design platforms and gave me the opportunity to work cross-disciplinary with many different softwares and hardwares. I feel very lucky to have this background as I feel like I was in the right place at the right time.

Kandinsky in Concert, God/Dess by vi.de.or.bit

Floral themes are very prominent in your works. Why do they fascinate you so much? Are there any other topics that are important to you as an artist?

I’m fascinated by nature and organic materials. This is very much reflected in the filters I create.

I challenge myself to mimic nature with tech, even though these two worlds couldn’t be further away from each other.

Synthetic material is always repetitive and absolute in values. I’m trying to recreate the natural random flow of nature in material and movement.

It’s really gratifying for me to see my artwork getting closer and closer to this natural look and feel. Though I’m definitely not there yet at all. The technological advances happening right now help me stew forward my work.

Faceplant, 2020 WARRIORS by vi.de.or.bit

You’ve told us earlier that you’re trying to tell a story with your effects. Could you elaborate on this matter?

For me an AR experience is not just a funny or beautiful thing that you augment into your world. It needs to tell a story or have an interesting concept to catch the attention of the user.

Essentially I want the user to utilize my artwork to tell their own story.

But on a lower level I’m also trying to create a story within every filter on their own. This is why most of my filters will have this organic revealing effect as soon as you start using it. It feels more natural for me to make it grow instead of it already being there. The revealing effect makes my work more magical in my opinion.

What is your favourite effect created by yourself? What’s the story behind it?

One of my favourite effects must be the Coral filter SOFISHTICATED. I wanted to make that one for a long time but I kept postponing it until there was nothing else left to do but that filter! 🙂 I really like to work around specific themes. Nature is the biggest theme reflected in my work. But I also love to make references to pop culture like the art world and greek mythology.

SOFISHTICATED, Fun Guy by vi.de.or.bit

I really wanted to create a detailed world for the user to be (literally) submerged in. This filter also has the revealing aspect built in.

You’ve described yourself as a person that always looks forward. So, what’s the future of AR? How do you see it? What do you hope for?

The future looks very promising to me. Many different new softwares and platforms are emerging right now. Technology is advancing at a fast pace and possibilities are endless for digital designers to create anything without even leaving their house. Technological development will only accelerate and I’m looking forward to being part of this new wave in art and design. If even I can keep up. 🙂

Thank you for your time, Isabelle! We can’t wait for your new effects and we wish you luck as freelancer!

Dear reader, if you want Isabelle to create Instagram filter for you, don’t hesitate and send her a brief! 😊