Ari Hwang - Summer

"I bridge the gap between human identity and digital worlds.

I translate complex 3D tech into the visual systems that make our future spaces feel personal, expressive, and authentically us."

AVATARS SUMMER GLOW UP

Art directed the "Summer Glow Up" launch for Meta’s next-gen avatar bodies. I bridged high-end fashion trends with technical body innovation to deepen user personalization.

Blog post

The Challenge: Standardized body types restricted diversity and blocked authentic self-expression. This "one-size-fits-all" approach created a barrier to personal connection within the platform.

The Solution: I art directed a flow featuring diverse body shapes to prioritize representation. I paired the LLM editor with character outfit changes to visually illustrate the feature, concluding with expressive emotes.

The Impact: in one sentence Enabled the creation of 2.9M Horizon Accounts through a redesigned visual flow, driving 50%+ mobile-only MAU and significant increases in user activity and retention.

META AVATAR PERSONALIZATION

The Challenge: Standardized avatars lacked the visual granularity 1B+ users needed for authentic self-expression. This generic experience created a barrier between users and their digital identities.

The Solution: I art directed a systematic personalization framework that moved beyond presets. This enabled intuitive, high-detail customization, ensuring users could create a deliberate reflection of their real-world selves.

The Impact: Achieved an 80%+ adoption rate for new assets, proving the visual strategy successfully met global demand for authenticity.

I researched prestige cosmetics to replace "digital defaults" with inspiring, realistic palettes and shapes that resonate with a global, trend-forward audience.

Developed a library of distinct feature archetypes and a grayscale ramp system for dynamic coloring. This maximized visual variety while maintaining a lightweight performance footprint for mobile and VR.

Identified the need for advanced self-expression and introduced the "Face Painting" category. This move bypassed standard makeup limitations, enabling complex, artistic styles for a higher tier of user identity.

Architected face paint as a non-destructive layer over traditional cosmetics. This systematic approach drove a significant lift in Social Value and User Affinity scores.

Deeper personalization to the avatars enabled end users to be better represented by, and affinities to, their Avatars

GTM STRATEGY

The Challenge: Low platform awareness and the need to shift public perception toward mainstream relevance.

The Solution: Established a visual "Inspiring Presence" strategy, using aspirational lifestyle imagery and high-fidelity motion to reposition the platform as a vibrant social ecosystem.

The Impact: Secured a significant engagement surge through strategic, brand-led IP campaigns.