16 Essential AR Skills
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.
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When considering a career in augmented reality, you may gravitate toward careers like AR/VR developer, AR user experience designer, or applications engineer. To be a part of an AR development team, you’ll likely need to develop key AR skills, representing both the technical aspects of working with augmented reality software development and the workplace skills you’ll need when working with a development team.
Learn about 16 essential AR skills you’ll need to succeed in the emerging augmented reality field.
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. 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 language, how hardware integrates, and data analysis principles. Discover why these skills are important 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.
Explore this skill with 3D Models for Virtual Reality offered by the University of London.
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.
Explore this skill with First Principles of Computer Vision Specialization offered by Columbia University.
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.
Explore these skills with Programming for Everybody, offered by the University of Michigan, or Programming Fundamentals in Swift, offered by Meta.
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.
Explore these skills with Intro to AR/VR/MR/XR: Technologies, Applications & Issues offered by the University of Michigan.
5. Data analysis: You may use data analysis to gain a better understanding of how users interact with your AR experience, or you may use data collected during AR for other purposes.
Explore this skill with Data Analysis with Python offered by IBM.
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, and CoreAudio, Core Animation.
Explore these skills with courses like Introduction to Augmented Reality and ARCore offered by Google AR and VR.
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.
Explore this skill with Introduction to 3D Modeling, offered by the University of Michigan.
8. Game engines: You may use specialized software called a game engine to create games. Two popular game engines are Unity and Unreal Engine.
Explore these skills with Game Design and Development with Unity Specialization offered by Michigan State University and Unreal Engine Fundamentals offered by Epic Games.
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.
Explore this skill with UX Design Fundamentals offered by CalArts.
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.
Explore this skill with Object-Oriented Design offered by the University of Alberta.
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.
Explore this skill with Fundamentals of Graphic Design offered by CalArts.
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.
Explore this skill with Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter offered by Michigan State University.
AR workplace skills
In augmented reality, you’ll also need to develop workplace skills that apply across job roles and make it possible to work well in a team. 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.
Explore this skill with Teamwork Skills: Communicating Effectively in Groups offered by the University of Colorado Boulder.
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.
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.
Learn AR skills on Coursera
Gaining skills relevant to a career in augmented reality will equip you options in the field. To start learning augmented reality skills today, consider a subscription to Coursera Plus. You can get unlimited access to explore all of the programs mentioned above and Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and Specializations to help you begin the AR career you want.
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