Rio de Los Angeles

Rio de Los Angeles is an augmented reality app that invites people to learn and interact with the history, complexities and potential of the Los Angeles River. Drawing on data from a variety of sources, including the LA River Index and historical archives, the app renders an immersive experience created to provide community access to the information driving Los Angeles River revitalization efforts in Los Angeles County.

Client: Superbright, in collaboration with Vrai Pictures, River LA, Gehry Partners, Olin, and Geosyntec

UX Designer

The first phase of the app allows users to launch an interactive, tabletop map of the 51-mile-long LA River community and walks users through the river’s history from the pre-historic era to the present. The next phase will give community members an onsite AR tool to use to imagine the future of the LA River.

I worked with the team to establish the overall story flow for the tabletop app and define user goals for the onsite experience. I expanded these higher level flows into detailed wireframes, keeping in mind that the onboarding and usability had to be as simple as possible for our target audience — the diverse LA River community.