Honoring a music legend through interactive storytelling and augmented reality
 
Overview
The Les Paul App was designed to celebrate the legacy of one of the most influential musicians and inventors in modern music history. Built around a unique augmented reality experience, the app takes users inside Les Paul’s home studio and allows them to explore his groundbreaking recording innovations—from multitrack audio to the solid-body electric guitar. I served as UX designer and art director, shaping a visual and interactive experience that balances education, nostalgia, and technical ingenuity.
 
Problem
The Les Paul Foundation wanted to create a modern, immersive way to share Les Paul’s story with younger generations—without relying on text-heavy or overly technical explanations. The challenge was to blend history and innovation in a format that was easy to use, emotionally engaging, and true to Les Paul’s inventive spirit.
 
Impact
• Delivered an immersive AR experience that recreates Les Paul’s personal studio
• Featured never-before-seen performance footage and educational videos
• Included interactive modules on guitar history, multitrack recording, and music invention
• Designed with educators and fans in mind, bridging entertainment and legacy preservation
 
My Role

I led UX and visual design from concept through launch, including:

• Interactive AR design and onboarding flow

• Visual direction and typography system

• Content layout for archival footage, interviews, and guides

• Simplified navigation for a wide age range of users

• Collaboration with developers to integrate AR content into a seamless mobile UI

 
Process Highlights
• Designed the AR interface to feel like a walk-through of Les Paul’s actual studio
• Integrated archival video with interactive modules on innovation and technique
• Created a dynamic homepage with access points for kids, music enthusiasts, and educators
• Developed a modular structure to allow future expansion of the content library
 
What Makes It Different
Instead of building a static museum-like app, we treated this like a stage—giving Les Paul a chance to perform, teach, and surprise users one more time. The experience blends storytelling, technology, and emotion in a way that few legacy apps manage to achieve.
 
Where It Went
The app was released as part of an educational initiative to support music learning and historical awareness. It has been featured in classrooms, guitar expos, and fan communities worldwide.