My Journey to A Career in XR Development
Joy Osunyomi is a standout figure in the African XR space, transitioning from a marketing career to becoming a prominent AR/VR enthusiast and 3D animator. With a strong background in computer science, she has made a name for herself in Social AR, captivating audiences on TikTok with her imaginative filters and effects. Her notable achievement includes recreating the “Barbie AI Generator” effect, showcasing her dedication and technical skills. As an active creator of #ARFilters on TikTok #EffectHouse, she consistently contributes to the growth of the African XR Community, thereby earning her the Community Spotlight in January.
Tell us about your origin story – what launched you into the African XR scene?
I’ve always been fascinated by technology and studied Computer Science at Olabisi Onabanjo University. After working in marketing and business development, I felt like something was missing. In 2019, I attended a tourism event where I discovered AR/VR Africa and became hooked on the potential of XR. Learning more about the technology, I realized it was exactly what I had been searching for. In 2022, I attended a WEB XR masterclass, facilitated by BabátĂşndĂ© Fatai which was my launchpad into myself into XR and the African XR Community scene.
What community project or experience are you most proud of?
I am most proud of a project I worked on for a smartphone company. The brand reached out to an agency to help publicize the launch of their new mobile device via AR on social media, and I got hired for the job. I was able to create a series of AR filters that were very popular with users, and I was proud to be able to use my skills to help a company achieve its marketing goals.
Inspire us – Can you share a time you faced challenges and slayed them?
One significant challenge I faced in my career was creating the BARBIE AI GENERATOR NG Effect for TikTok. The goal was to replicate the official selfie generator from the Barbie film’s debut. The effect allowed users to insert their photos into Barbie Land, and customize the background, placement, and tagline. I studied the film’s AI generator and realized it required male and female templates, 8 different Barbie-themed backgrounds, and user text input. I recreated the promotional poster, designed fonts, and ensured seamless template switching with different colour themes. Despite making mistakes, I persevered and completed the project in 19 days. The final output matched my vision, and the effect generated 11,795 unique videos on TikTok within 6 months.
Levelling up your game, what are some epic milestones you’ve crushed both IRL and in the XRverse?
My speciality is Social AR, and I have achieved several milestones in this area. On TikTok’s Effect House portal, I have gotten the Golden Badge; A unique TikTok profile frame unlocked when you have published 5 Effects and 3 out of those 5 Effects have at least 1,000 videos created using the effect. I have gotten all 4 badges in the learning section, 8 out of 14 badges in the creation section and the 10 million Effect views badge. I am also proud to be a member of the African XR Community, and I am excited to see what the future holds for this amazing community.
What sage advice would you drop for other XR adventurers in the community?
My advice for other XR adventurers is to keep learning, don’t be lazy in learning. Keep on learning, no one can take it away from you. Keep practising what you’ve learnt and continuously improve.
Which of the Community’s initiatives are you excited about and looking forward to?
- THE WEEKEND CODE: Looking forward to learning Unreal Engine.
How do you see the African XR community positively reshaping the realities of its members this year?
I see the African XR community positively reshaping the realities of its members this year. With the community’s support, learning opportunities, and partnerships, I am confident that more members will achieve global recognition, participate in competitions, Hackathons, and Challenges, and improve their financial situations.
This year, I see more members confidently taking on projects knowing that they’ve got backing; and a strong Network of highly competent XR professionals in the community.
Who are your digital icons or heroes, both within and outside the XR space? Tell us who fuels your creative fires!
When it comes to digital icons or heroes, Joy looks up to Ibukun Awosika, Jumoke Adenowo, Joe (Projoe ARFilters), Daniel Schwarz, Denis Rossiev, Filtroshmo, Ayse Ozdemir, Paige Piskin, and Kasai Green. Projoe ARFilters, Daniel Schwarz, Ayse Ozdemir, and Kasai Green specifically fuel her creative fire.
Any hidden gems you want to share with the community? Secret AR filters, must-try VR experiences, mind-blowing resources? – spill the beans!
This would come in handy for the ladies. It’s a personal make-up template; With this beauty effect, You do not need to always apply make-up whenever you are about to create content online. This saves cost and time; my make-up kit lasts for longer and I can easily create good-looking content in minutes.
There are lots of resources I learn from and they are all available online; GOOGLE is my very good friend, whatever information I need, I ask, and it links me up to mind-blowing resource(s).
Note: The Community Spotlight from the African XR Community aims to recognize and promote outstanding members who contribute to the growth of the XR Ecosystem in Africa. To be featured in the upcoming months, continue building and sharing your work, especially on the African XR Community Channel on WhatsApp. Show your dedication and engage with your audience.