16 Essential AR Skills

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

To become an augmented reality developer, you’ll need to gain the AR skills you’ll need to be successful in the field. Explore key AR skills like 3D modeling and animation, AR frameworks, and more.

[Featured Image] Two architects are using AR skills to create a 3D prototype of a building project.

Key takeaways

A career in augmented reality (AR) requires developing key skills in AR technology, software, and graphic design, as well as workplace skills.

  • Consider developing technical AR skills in 3D modeling and animation, computer vision, programming, and data analysis.

  • Understanding AR design principles, including user interface and experience design, software design, and visual design, can be useful in your AR career.

  • You can start developing your AR skills in a bachelor’s degree program in information technology, design, or marketing, depending on your preferred career path.

Learn about 16 essential AR skills you’ll need to succeed in the emerging augmented reality field. If you’re ready to develop some of these skills, consider enrolling in the Meta Data Analyst Professional Certificate. In as little as five months, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about data analysis and collection, business metrics, and data management. By the end, you’ll have earned a shareable career credential for your resume.

16 core AR skills 

Although you can choose from many different roles within an augmented reality developer team, you will need to know how to work with AR technology, software, and graphic design, and workplace skills that make it easier to work in a team. When considering a career in augmented reality, you may gravitate toward careers like AR/VR developer, AR user experience designer, or applications engineer. Explore technical skills, AR frameworks and tools, design principles, and workplace skills needed to succeed in augmented reality. 

Technical AR skills

In AR, you’ll need to understand 3D modeling and animation, computer vision, programming languages, how hardware integrates, and data analysis principles. Discover why these skills are essential and what technology to be aware of: 

1. 3D modeling and animation: You must understand 3D modeling and animation software to create the digital content your users experience during your AR program. You can gain experience with 3D modeling software like Blender, Maya, and Houdini. 

2. Computer vision: AR experiences require the AI model to understand the user’s surroundings, which means you’ll need to understand the principles of computer vision. Computer vision is the ability of an AI model to process images and use strategies like object tracking, recognition, and detection. 

3. Programming languages for AR: As with any development project, you must know how to use the programming languages that build your app. In augmented reality, some programming languages you may find helpful include Java, C#, C++, Python, PERL, BASH, and Swift. 

Read more: 5 Types of Programming Languages

4. Knowledge of hardware integration: Another important skill you’ll need to know for a career in AR is how to integrate hardware and what the limitations of that hardware will be. This can help you create a seamless experience with the real world. It will include general hardware like mainframes and storage systems, sensors, and hardware specific to augmented and virtual reality like HTC VIVE, Microsoft Hololens, and PlayStation VR. 

AR frameworks and tools

You’ll also need to understand how AR frameworks and tools like software development kits and 3D file formats work to bring your augmented reality experience to life. Discover some of the skills you’ll need: 

6. AR frameworks and SDKs: You must understand how to use AR frameworks or libraries that give you specific tools to build AR experiences on different apps. For example, you need ARKit for iOS apps and ARCore for Android apps. Other examples of frameworks and SDKs you might use while creating AR apps include UIKit, AVFoundation, Core ML, CloudKit, RealityKit, Vuforia, Core Media, Core Audio, and Core Animation. 

7. 3D file formats: You must understand how to work with 3D files using formats like glTF (Graphics Library Transmission Format), OBJ, FBX, and USD/USDZ. 

8. Game engines: You may use specialized software called a game engine to create games. Two popular game engines are Unity and Unreal Engine.

AR design principle skills

Augmented reality requires both software design and graphic design, as you will be creating a software program that heavily relies on visual cues to the user. Explore some of the design principles you’ll need to be familiar with: 

9. User interface and experience design for AR: Since you will be designing applications that allow users to experience augmented reality, you’ll want to understand the principles of user interface and user experience design. These skills will allow you to consider your application from your user’s point of view and look for ways to improve their experience. 

10. Software design principles: You will draw on software design principles to create AR experiences. Skills you can develop in this space include product lifecycle management, unit testing, documentation, source control, and more. 

11. Visual design principles: All software development includes visual design principles, but AR draws heavily on what your users will look at. This means that visual design principles are an important skill to develop to start a career in this field. 

12. Asset design: You will need to be familiar with the process of designing 3D assets, such as prototyping, visualization, proof of concept, and content development. 

AR workplace skills

In augmented reality, you’ll also need to develop workplace skills that apply across job roles and make working well in a team possible. A few workplace AR skills you’ll need include: 

13. Communication: You’ll likely work with other professionals to create AR solutions, so communication and collaboration skills will be necessary.

14. Attention to detail: You must be detail-oriented with an eye for accuracy because the programming and other components that build your AR experience require precision. 

15. Adaptability: You will need to be adaptable, both in the design process and the tools and resources you use, because AR technologies are quickly evolving and advancing. 

16. Problem-solving: You will use problem-solving to think through challenges and solve problems. 

What is an example of AR?

Augmented reality is accessible on smartphones through Snapchat lenses, which can change your facial features or voice, or add 3D characters to your photos. Some shopping apps let you try clothes on virtually, using your phone’s camera and AR to visualize them on you, without a visit to the store or a dressing room.

How to gain more AR skills

One way to gain the skills you need for your future career is through an education. The strategy to gain more AR skills will depend partly on what role you want to take in an AR development team. For example, you want to become an augmented reality software developer. In that case, you’re likely to need a bachelor’s degree where you can study many of the topics you’ll need for your career, often focusing on computers or information technology. If you wanted to join an AR team as a user interaction designer, you would likely need to earn your bachelor’s degree in design or marketing.

Regardless of the role you pursue, you can also gain skills outside of a traditional degree program, such as through short-term courses and boot camps.

Find free resources for your career

Subscribe to Career Chat on LinkedIn, where you can stay up-to-date on emerging trends. Then, explore the following free resources as you prepare for an AR career:

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