Delfy CES 2025
Small Booth, Big Impression: Making Delfy Shine with AR Magic
Overview
I created an interactive AR experience for Delfy Inc., an LA-based tech accessories company, at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. With over 4,000 exhibitors competing for attention, Delfy needed to stand out from tech giants like Sony and Samsung with just a compact 10x10 booth.
Using Lens Studio, I designed a dual-camera AR lens that turned booth visitors into active participants. The experience showcased Delfy's product durability through an engaging mini-game while staying true to their sleek, tech-forward brand identity. The result were 15,413 plays during the event and countless memorable interactions that proved AR can transform how people connect with a brand.
Project Type
AR Design
Year
2025
My Role
Visual Designer | AR Designer
Key Stakeholder
Delfy Inc.
Problem
CES is overwhelming. Thousands of booths, endless flashy displays, and everyone fighting for attention. Delfy had a 10x10 space and needed to make every square foot count. The question wasn't just "How do we get people to stop?" It was "How do we make them remember us after they leave?"
Design Challenge
How might we create a memorable, engaging experience that communicates Delfy's innovation and product quality without relying on expensive booth infrastructure or massive displays?
Target Audience
Curious booth visitors who stopped by to check out Delfy's products
B2B prospects looking for innovative brands to partner with
Tech enthusiasts who appreciate creative uses of AR
Social media users who'd share the experience beyond the event
Solution: 'Ike Maka AR
A dual-camera AR experience that transforms users into active participants in Hawaii's tech future. The front camera celebrates identity with traditional Hawaiian elements, while the back camera invites exploration through an interactive message hunt.
See clearly. Build community.
Own tech, preserve culture.
My Process
Research & Strategy
I started by understanding the CES environment. It's loud, crowded, and exhausting. People's attention spans are measured in seconds. Whatever I designed needed to be instantly understandable, require minimal explanation, deliver value quickly, and be shareable.
I also researched Delfy's brand values and product strengths. Their Kevlar screen protectors aren't just protective, they're engineered to save you $700 in repair costs. That's the story I needed to tell.
Visual Direction
Delfy's branding uses navy blue and bright orange, a bold combination that feels both premium and energetic. I leaned into that contrast, aiming for a sleek, minimal aesthetic that felt modern and approachable.
Lens Development
Asset Creation
In Illustrator, I crafted custom assets that balanced cultural authenticity with AR functionality.
The Lei Frame
I illustrated an animated lei that frames the screen edges, using a careful selection of Hawaiian flowers and leaves. Each element was chosen for both visual appeal and cultural significance. The animation gives the lei a gentle sway, as if responding to a tropical breeze. It's celebratory without being overwhelming.
The Slogan Crown
The total of six inspirational messages float around the user's head like a crown, reinforcing the idea that these values are something to wear with pride. The rotation is gentle, giving users time to read each message as it passes.
Preserving Legacy
Exploring Creativity
Empowering Locals
Connecting with Youth
Celebrating Tech
Building New Skills
Design Challenges
Cultural Authenticity vs. AR Constraints
One of the biggest challenges was honoring Hawaiian cultural elements within the technical limitations of AR. Lei-making is an art form that involves intricate layering, texture, and three-dimensionality. Translating that into optimized 2D assets that still felt authentic required multiple iterations.
I focused on commonly celebrated flowers (orchid, plumeria) that are widely recognized and non-sacred, while ensuring the overall aesthetic honored traditional lei-making techniques. The animation added dimension where static graphics couldn't.
Balancing Information with Delight
There's a tension in AR design between "teaching" and "entertaining." Too much information feels preachy. Too little feels empty. The cloud interaction solved this beautifully: users actively choose to unlock messages rather than having them thrust upon them. It's education disguised as treasure hunting.
Final Experience: 'Ike Maka AR
'Ike Maka AR acts as a bridge between tradition and innovation, designed to make blockchain feel less like tech jargon and more like community building.
Through two camera modes, users get to experience the mission firsthand. The front camera lets you wear your values, literally transforming you into an advocate with Hawaiian elements and empowering messages. The back camera invites you on a treasure hunt, where each discovery teaches you something new about 'Ike Maka's vision.
By the time someone finishes exploring both modes, they haven't just used an AR lens. They've participated in a movement, one tap and one shared selfie at a time.
Front Camera: Wear Your Values
The front camera experience transforms selfies into statements. You're not just at an event, you're part of a movement. It's designed to be shared, spreading the 'Ike Maka message organically through social networks.
Key Features
An animated lei frame that celebrates Hawaiian tradition
The 'Ike Maka logo positioned as a badge of participation
A rotating crown of inspirational slogans above their head:
"Empowering Locals"
"Celebrating Tech"
"Building New Skills"
"Preserving Legacy"
"Connecting with Youth"
"Exploring Creativity"
Back Camera: Discover the Mission
The back camera shifts from celebration to exploration. By the time users have tapped all six clouds, they've created a small garden and a constellation. Each tap is a small commitment to engagement, and by the sixth one, users have invested enough attention to truly understand the initiative.
Key Features
The 'Ike Maka logo floating in their space (movable and placeable anywhere)
Six clouds hovering around the logo, inviting interaction
The magic happens on tap: Each cloud reveals one of the six core values, while simultaneously:
A unique flower blooms from the ground (rooting the idea in place)
A star twinkles into existence above (celebrating the discovery)
Reflection
This project taught me that AR isn't just about flashy effects or viral moments. It's about creating spaces where people can see themselves reflected, where learning feels like play, and where culture and innovation can coexist beautifully.
I learned that design is cultural responsibility. When you're working with cultural elements that aren't your own (or even when they are), you have to approach with humility and research. Every flower, every color choice, every word carries meaning. I learned to slow down, ask questions, and prioritize authenticity over aesthetic convenience.
The most meaningful feedback came from my friend who said, "I didn't know tech could feel Hawaiian." That's the point. Tech isn't separate from culture, it's a tool for expressing it.
Designing for 'Ike Maka reminded me that technology can be warm, culturally rooted, and purpose-driven. The best tech doesn't erase culture, it amplifies it. If this lens helped even one young person see themselves as a future tech creator, or sparked one conversation about preserving culture while embracing innovation, then this is a huge success.