In March 2023 I traveled to Austin, Texas to take part in TXI Buildfest, a weekend-long hackathon hosted by the Texas Immersive Institute at UT Austin.
The 2023 edition, sponsored by 8th Wall, challenged students to explore how WebAR could be used for social good—tackling issues like mental health, environmental inequities, accessibility, race visibility, and gender inclusivity.
I was invited to present and teach students how to build their first AR experiences with 8th Wall. Throughout the weekend, I also provided hands-on technical support—debugging projects, answering questions, and helping teams bring their ideas to life. Faculty at UT Austin guided students through the brainstorming process, while I helped translate their concepts into working prototypes.
Over 48 hours, eleven teams worked tirelessly to design, code, and pitch their AR applications. The energy in the room reminded me why I love this space: students who had never touched AR before were suddenly experimenting with VPS, image targets, and interactive design to address real-world issues affecting their community.
Some standout projects included:
- RecyclAR, the winning team, which created an educational AR experience about recycling habits.
- My Mental Buddy, a tool supporting students with executive dysfunction.
- What We Hear, a powerful AR project tackling microaggressions on campus.
- Eco-AR, which earned the Play Big Award, helping students visualize energy consumption through VPS.
On Sunday, each team presented their project to a panel of judges—including myself, UT faculty, and industry partners. Watching the students step on stage, demo their work, and articulate how AR could create positive change was inspiring. The deliberations were tough, but the projects spoke for themselves—creative, technically ambitious, and deeply thoughtful.
Leaving Austin, I felt proud of how quickly these students had embraced AR not just as technology, but as a tool for storytelling and advocacy. Buildfest proved that when you give young creators access to cutting-edge platforms like 8th Wall and pair that with a mission of social impact, they’ll build experiences that matter.