WeAR | Devpost

Challenge 2 - Everyday AR for Behavioural Transformation & Inclusion

Inspiration

The fashion industry affects millions of workers and heavily impacts the environment, yet most consumers never feel connected to these realities. Existing awareness campaigns rarely lead to behavioral change because the problems stay abstract and emotionally distant. We wanted to bridge this gap by creating an experience that makes global supply chains felt, not just understood - without guilt, pressure, or shaming. AR offered the perfect way to merge the real shopping environment with the hidden realities behind clothing production.

What it does

WeAR is an AR experience for AR headsets that guides users through a short, playful shopping interaction before shifting into a sensitively designed simulation of fashion production. Our avatar Awaera explains, supports, and narrates without judging. Users return from the simulation with emotional insight, receive clear facts about labor conditions and environmental impact, and explore realistic, inclusive pathways toward more conscious consumption.

How we built it

We developed the full concept, narrative structure, and prototype within a short sprint. Our process included: • Development of the full narrative foundation: story and ethics design, creation of our Avatar, and early environment concepts for the mini games • Research on labor conditions and environmental impact • Prototype in Figma • Structured, inclusive content-warning system with alternative paths • Business plan with financing logic, partner incentives, budget breakdown, and long-term strategy • Ethics Brief outlining how we avoid manipulation, protect users emotionally, and ensure inclusion • Pitch deck (PowerPoint) that summarizes the concept

Challenges we ran into

• We had no technical student or developer in our team, so we were limited to building a UX/UI prototype in Figma instead of a functioning AR application • Designing an experience that informs without overwhelming • Balancing emotional impact with ethical responsibility • Ensuring inclusion for users who avoid distressing content or cannot afford sustainable fashion • Aligning diverse stakeholders (retailers, NGOs, public institutions) in one scalable model • Building both the experience and a full strategic/business foundation in parallel

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Creating a complete, emotionally meaningful AR concept without having a technical developer on the team • Developing a strong narrative structure with Awaera as a unique, inclusive character and guide • Designing an ethics-driven experience that informs without manipulating and includes alternative safe paths • Writing a comprehensive Ethics Brief and designing a complete pitch deck in a very short sprint • Achieving a coherent vision that combines storytelling, impact strategy, AR concepting, and business logic

What we learned

• Behavioral transformation is most effective when emotional impact is paired with user agency • Ethical guardrails (content warnings, alternative paths) strengthen trust rather than weakening the experience • Inclusion must be designed from the very beginning—not added later • Strong multi-stakeholder solutions attract retailers, NGOs, and public programs simultaneously • A clear business plan is crucial for turning powerful storytelling into a viable product

What's next for WeAR

Next, we aim to develop the first functional AR headset prototype and, in parallel, build a companion mobile version for users who cannot wear AR headsets. We will further refine Awaera’s personality, animation style, and voice, while strengthening our business model and preparing fully investor-ready materials. The experience will expand through additional modules covering water consumption, CO₂ footprint, and circular economy. With these foundations in place, we plan to run pilot projects in malls, fashion retailers, universities, and NGO campaigns, ultimately scaling WeAR into a broad educational and commercial platform.