XR design is not just about creating something visually impressive, but also about crafting experiences that transform our understanding of difficult and abstract concepts.

Mugesh S, our next pathbreaker, is XR Design Engineer at Myracle.io, a company that makes STEM-based science modules in Augmented Reality.

Mugesh talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from the Interview Portal about a key turning point in his career when he was selected for Facebook’s School of Innovation scholarship program on Augmented Reality—an opportunity given to only 100 people across India.

For students, Cultivate both technical and creative skills. The ability to bridge technical execution and creative vision is increasingly valuable in almost every field

My Portfolio : https://mugesh-xr.framer.website/

Mugesh, can you share your background with our young readers??

I was born and raised in Chennai, and I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a tier-1 city that provided extensive exposure to technology from an early age. This environment sparked my curiosity and opened doors to opportunities that shaped my journey.

From childhood, I had a strong creative drive and was always fascinated by building things. While I didn’t have any particular interest in XR initially, I did possess an innate desire to create and solve problems through technology. I pursued my Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, which gave me a strong foundation in technical skills.

What truly set my path apart was my approach to learning. Rather than confining myself to classrooms, I actively sought hands-on experiences. I found joy in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world projects, which became my primary mode of education. This practical approach to learning would later become instrumental in my career.

What did you do for graduation/post graduation?

I completed my BTech in Information Technology from an Anna University affiliated college in Chennai. During my academic years, I focused more on practical applications than theoretical studies. While the classroom provided a necessary foundation, I found my true learning happened outside—in hackathons, projects, and self-directed explorations.

My college education gave me technical fundamentals, but I enhanced these skills through constant participation in competitions and challenges. This complementary approach to education—combining formal studies with practical experience—proved invaluable for my career in the emerging field of XR design.

What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Augmented Reality technologies?

My journey into XR design wasn’t premeditated but evolved through a series of pivotal experiences:

a) Key influencers: The turning point came when I was selected for Facebook’s School of Innovation scholarship program on Augmented Reality—an opportunity given to only 100 people across India. This program opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of 3D design and augmented reality, showing me how technology could transform our perception of the world.

b) People/mentors: The innovators I met during hackathons and at SAP Labs during my first competition significantly influenced my thinking. Seeing professionals create solutions that seemed like magic inspired me to pursue similar paths.

c) Events: Participating in SAP Labs’ Semicolon Hackathon marked a critical moment in my journey. My project—controlling a robotic hand using EEG brain waves—made it to the finals, giving me the confidence to pursue ambitious technological projects. Subsequent hackathons reinforced my interest in creating immersive experiences.

d) Turning points: Winning the Smart India Hackathon 2020 with our millimeter wave-based passenger scanner simulation was a significant validation of my skills. This achievement, coupled with the hands-on experience gained from the Facebook AR program, steered me toward specializing in XR technologies rather than traditional IT roles.

What truly drew me to this field was the perfect intersection of creativity and technology. XR design allows me to craft experiences that were previously confined to imagination, bringing them into reality. It’s this ability to transform the impossible into the possible that made me fall in love with XR design.

How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path.

My career path wasn’t meticulously planned from the beginning—it evolved organically through exploration and seizing opportunities. Here’s how my journey unfolded:

Rather than following a conventional career path, I embraced an exploration-driven approach. I identified emerging technologies that excited me and sought opportunities to work with them. My guiding principle was simple: pursue projects that combined creativity with cutting-edge technology, even if they didn’t fit into established career tracks.

My first significant experience was an internship focused on telemetry devices for soldiers in extreme conditions, which resulted in a research paper submitted to DRDO.

This internship was with Vayusaasthra, an IIT Madras incubated aeronautical startup. They were working on securing a government project from the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) and approached our college for research interns. My college recommended me and my team for this venture.

Our task was to research telemetry devices that could be used by army soldiers in extremely cold regions like Siachen. This area is a vital tactical point on the Indian border, but also has an extremely harsh environment where temperatures can plummet to -50 degrees Celsius. We conducted research to identify the optimal telemetry device specifications that could function reliably in such harsh conditions and published our findings in a paper submitted to DRDO. This wasn’t AR technology, but it gave me valuable experience in researching solutions for extreme real-world challenges.

Despite being among the first in my batch to receive a job offer through campus placements, I hesitated to accept a traditional 9-to-5 corporate role as it didn’t align with my creative aspirations.

The pivotal moment came when I secured a remote Spatial Design Intern position at Cerebranium through LinkedIn. Initially hired for research on an XR application for STEM education, this role perfectly aligned with my interests in XR technology.

After six months, Cerebranium rebranded to Myracle, and I was promoted directly to a mid-level Spatial Designer position. This transition marked my full commitment to the XR field.

While my BTech provided the technical foundation, most of my specialized XR design skills came from self-directed learning and practical experience. The Facebook AR scholarship program was particularly valuable in developing my 3D design and animation capabilities.

LinkedIn proved essential for finding opportunities in the emerging XR field. By actively searching for positions that matched my interests, I discovered roles that weren’t advertised through traditional channels.

Hackathons served as both skill-building platforms and networking opportunities. Each competition expanded my portfolio and connected me with like-minded innovators. Additionally, publishing research demonstrated my ability to apply technology to solve real-world problems.

My career path illustrates that success doesn’t always follow a linear trajectory. By remaining open to unconventional opportunities and continuously expanding my skill set through hands-on projects, I found my way into a field that perfectly matched my passions and abilities.

How did you get your first break?

My first significant break came through a combination of proactive job searching and showcasing my specialized skills. After deciding against traditional IT roles from campus placements, I specifically targeted XR-related positions on LinkedIn, using search terms related to 3D design, augmented reality, and spatial computing.

This focused approach led me to discover a Spatial Design Intern role at Cerebranium, a remote company working on XR applications for education. When applying, I highlighted my experience from the Facebook AR program and showcased projects from various hackathons that demonstrated my 3D design capabilities.

During the interview, my practical experience with AR development and genuine passion for educational applications of XR technology helped me stand out. The company was looking for someone who could contribute to their research project on XR applications for STEM education, and my background aligned perfectly with their needs.

What made this opportunity truly a “break” was that it offered me entry into the exact specialized field I wanted to pursue, rather than a general IT position. The role’s focus on research and development also provided freedom to explore creative applications of XR technology—something I wouldn’t have found in a more structured corporate environment.

The lesson here is that sometimes finding your break means looking beyond conventional paths and specifically targeting opportunities that align with your unique skills and interests, even if they’re in emerging fields with fewer established entry points.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

Challenge 1: Navigating an emerging field with limited formal educational pathways When I started pursuing XR design, there were few structured courses or degrees specifically focused on this area. Most educational content was dispersed across platforms, often outdated, or too general to be practical.

I addressed this by creating my own learning curriculum. I combined online tutorials with hands-on projects, essentially learning by doing. Each hackathon became a focused learning opportunity where I could build specific skills needed for that particular challenge. This project-based learning approach allowed me to develop practical expertise that formal education wasn’t yet providing.

Challenge 2: Balancing technical expertise with creative design skills XR design demands both technical proficiency and creative vision—a rare combination. Initially, my technical background in IT gave me an advantage in understanding the development aspects, but I needed to strengthen my design thinking and 3D modeling skills.

I tackled this by deliberately seeking projects that would stretch my creative abilities. The Facebook AR scholarship program was particularly valuable, as it forced me to think about user experience and visual design alongside technical implementation. I also studied principles of game design, interaction design, and psychology to better understand how users experience immersive environments.

Challenge 3: Working in a field where standards and best practices are constantly evolving The rapid advancement of XR technology means that what works today might be obsolete tomorrow. Platforms change, hardware evolves, and user expectations shift quickly.

My approach to this challenge has been to focus on fundamental principles rather than specific technologies. By understanding the core concepts of spatial design, user interaction, and immersive storytelling, I’ve built a knowledge base that transfers across platforms. I’ve also maintained a consistent practice of experimentation with new devices like the Quest 3, ensuring I stay ahead of technology curves rather than trying to catch up to them.

These challenges, while difficult, actually became advantages over time. The lack of established pathways meant I could define my own unique approach to XR design, combining elements from game development, educational design, and interaction engineering in ways that might not have emerged in a more structured field.

Where do you work now? What problems do you solve? 

Myracle is an Edtech XR company. We make STEM-based science modules in augmented reality. We started as a mobile-first AR product but are now transitioning fully into Head Mounted Devices (HMDs). Our mobile-based AR modules are curated for teachers and students to learn science in an immersive way. There are over 50+ science modules—I personally managed the production of every module in this app over the past 3 years. Now we are making the leap to the future tech of head mounted devices.

About my work, I am a generalist but mainly focus on the planning-design-implementation aspect of things. I started with mobile AR, but now I’m fully focused on HMD-based applications. My office work is one aspect, but I’m also heavily invested in my side projects.

At Myracle, I work as a Spatial Designer where I create immersive STEM education experiences that make complex scientific concepts accessible to students. A significant challenge in science education is providing hands-on experience with experiments that require expensive equipment or complex setups. My work solves this by creating virtual alternatives that capture the essential learning experience while eliminating practical barriers.

For instance, when designing a module on electrical circuits, I need to create an intuitive interface that allows students to build and test circuits virtually while ensuring the simulation accurately represents real-world physics. This requires balancing educational accuracy with engaging design to keep students motivated.

Beyond Myracle, my independent projects address problems like making archaeological fieldwork more efficient through mixed reality tools, and creating more intuitive, natural interaction systems for VR environments that reduce the learning curve for users.

Since Mixed Reality is a fairly new concept, can you explain your real world application in Archaeology?

One of my side projects is ArtifactLens, a mixed reality tool designed for archaeological preservation and documentation. Mixed reality technology allows digital content to interact with the physical world in real-time, and in archaeology, this creates powerful new possibilities.

ArtifactLens uses XR technology with a precision stylus to create high-fidelity digital captures of archaeological artifacts and sites. For example, archaeologists in the field can wear a mixed reality headset to scan immovable artifacts like wall inscriptions or cave paintings, capturing their texture, depth, and surface details with unprecedented accuracy. The system offers real-time feedback during the scanning process and uses AI to detect areas needing additional detail.

Here is my work on ArtifactLens:

https://mugesh-xr.framer.website/works/artifact-lens

Other Works :

https://mugesh-xr.framer.website/works/wizard-xr

The practical benefit is immense: archaeological sites that are deteriorating due to environmental factors or are difficult to access can be digitally preserved in exceptional detail. These digital models can then be shared globally, allowing researchers worldwide to study artifacts without physical transportation. The system also helps with fragment analysis and reconstruction planning for damaged artifacts.

What makes this application particularly valuable is how it bridges traditional archaeological methods with cutting-edge technology, making the preservation process more efficient while expanding access to historical knowledge.

What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills? 

My role requires a unique blend of technical and creative skills:

  • 3D Modeling and Animation: I developed these through the Facebook AR program and continuous practice with tools like Blender and Unity.
  • Interaction Design: I learned this primarily through experimentation and studying user behavior with prototypes.
  • Game Design Principles: Acquired through both self-study of game design theory and practical application in educational modules.
  • Subject Matter Expertise: For educational content, I need to understand the scientific concepts deeply before I can translate them into interactive experiences. This often involves research and collaboration with subject experts.
  • Product Management: Working in a startup environment required me to develop these skills on the job, taking on responsibilities beyond my core design role.
  • Programming Knowledge: My IT background provided a foundation, but I expanded my skills through specific project needs, particularly in Unity development.

What’s interesting is that many of these skills weren’t taught formally but were acquired through project-based learning and the necessity of solving real problems.

What’s a typical day like? 

My day typically begins with reviewing design priorities and ongoing projects. In the morning, I might be modeling 3D assets for a new science module or refining interactions based on user testing feedback. This creative work requires focused concentration, so I try to schedule it when my mind is freshest.

Afternoons often involve collaboration—meetings with subject matter experts to ensure educational accuracy, sessions with developers to address technical constraints, or reviews with the product team to align on priorities. As a spatial designer in a small team, I wear multiple hats, so I might switch between creating storyboards for new modules, testing prototypes, and troubleshooting technical issues.

I dedicate time each week to experimenting with new technologies or techniques that could enhance our products. This might involve testing a new VR headset feature or exploring a different approach to a user interface challenge.

Teaching is also a regular part of my schedule. I conduct workshops for students on game design and XR development, which not only helps others but also sharpens my own understanding of fundamental concepts.

What is it you love about this job? 

What I love most about my job is witnessing the moment when someone experiences something in XR for the first time—that look of wonder and the “aha!” moment when they grasp a concept through immersive interaction rather than abstract explanation.

I also cherish the perfect balance between creativity and technology. Each day presents new design challenges that require both imaginative solutions and technical problem-solving. This constant variety keeps the work fresh and engaging.

The field’s rapid evolution means I’m always learning and growing. Working with cutting-edge technology like the Quest 3 or developing new interaction systems pushes me to expand my skills continually.

Finally, knowing that my work makes education more accessible and engaging gives me a sense of purpose. Creating experiences that help students understand complex scientific concepts in intuitive ways feels meaningful and worthwhile.

How does your work benefit society?

My work in XR design contributes to society in several meaningful ways:

First and foremost, it democratizes education by making high-quality STEM learning experiences accessible to students regardless of their school’s resources. Many scientific experiments require expensive equipment or specialized facilities that aren’t available in all schools. By creating virtual alternatives, we ensure that students from diverse backgrounds can engage with the same rich learning experiences. Over the past three years, I’ve crafted more than 50 augmented reality STEM modules that bring complex scientific concepts to life for students who might otherwise only experience them through textbooks.

Beyond education, my work helps prepare young people for future technologies. As XR becomes increasingly integrated into various industries—from healthcare to manufacturing—familiarity with spatial computing concepts becomes a valuable skill. By introducing students to these technologies early, I’m helping build a generation comfortable with tools that will likely be commonplace in their professional lives.

Spatial computing refers to the technology that enables digital content to interact with and understand the physical world around us. It’s the foundation of XR experiences, allowing virtual objects to be placed in real spaces with accurate positioning and scale. This technology enables computers to perceive depth, recognize physical objects, and understand the environment—essentially making digital systems spatially aware. In my work, spatial computing is what allows students to interact with virtual science experiments that feel like they’re happening in their actual classroom space.

The game design workshops I conduct serve another important purpose: they empower young people to become creators of technology, not just consumers. Teaching over 300 students the fundamentals of design thinking, 3D modeling, and animation gives them the tools to express their own ideas through interactive media. This shifts their relationship with technology from passive to active, fostering innovation and creative thinking.

My more experimental projects, like the archaeological fieldwork tool “Artifact Lens,” demonstrate how XR can transform professional fields by making specialized work more efficient and collaborative. These applications show how spatial computing can enhance human capabilities and solve real-world problems.

At its core, my work bridges the gap between complex technological concepts and human understanding, making the abstract tangible and the complicated intuitive. This translation function—making advanced technology accessible and meaningful to everyday users—is perhaps the most significant social benefit of what I do.

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!

One of my most memorable projects was developing an augmented reality module that simulates the human circulatory system for middle school students. This particular module stands out because it transformed an abstract concept that students typically struggle with into an engaging, interactive experience that sparked genuine curiosity and understanding.

The challenge was significant: how do you help 13-14 year olds understand the complex interactions between the heart, blood vessels, oxygen, and cells without resorting to oversimplified diagrams or overwhelming technical details? Traditional methods either sacrificed accuracy for engagement or became too technical to be accessible.

I approached this by creating a layered AR experience where students could use their tablets to see a beating heart overlaid on their own chest. As they interacted with the simulation, they could follow the journey of a single blood cell through the heart chambers, lungs, and body. The experience was designed to be progressive—starting with basic visualization and gradually introducing concepts like oxygen exchange, pressure differentials, and the effects of physical activity on heart rate.

What made this project special was testing it with actual students. I’ll never forget one particular student who had been struggling with science concepts. When he used our AR module, his face lit up with recognition as he traced the path of blood through the pulmonary system. “So that’s why we breathe!” he exclaimed. That moment of genuine understanding—where an abstract concept suddenly becomes concrete and personal—is what makes this work meaningful.

The technical aspects were challenging too. Creating fluid animations that were scientifically accurate while remaining visually clear required multiple iterations and consultations with biology teachers. I had to balance educational fidelity with technical constraints of mobile AR, ensuring the experience would work reliably in classroom settings with varying lighting conditions and space limitations.

This project embodies what I love about XR design—it’s not just about creating something visually impressive, but about crafting experiences that transform understanding. The circulatory system module remains close to my heart because it demonstrated the true potential of XR in education: making the invisible visible and the complex comprehensible.

Your advice to students based on your experience?

Based on my journey in the emerging field of XR design, here’s what I would share with students considering their future paths:

Embrace learning by doing. Classroom education provides important foundations, but the most valuable skills I developed came from hands-on projects. Don’t wait until you feel “ready”—jump into hackathons, create personal projects, and apply for opportunities even if you don’t meet all the stated requirements. The experience of building something, even if it fails, teaches more than perfectly completing assignments ever could.

Look for intersections between different fields. The most interesting opportunities often exist at the boundaries between established disciplines. My work combines elements of game design, education, psychology, and computer science. Developing knowledge across multiple domains makes you uniquely valuable, especially in emerging fields where specialists from single disciplines struggle to address multifaceted challenges.

Don’t follow predetermined career paths too rigidly. When I was a student, “XR Design Engineer” wasn’t a common job title, and many of the tools I use daily didn’t exist. Be open to roles that might not match traditional career tracks but align with your interests and strengths. Sometimes the most rewarding careers are those you help define as they evolve.

Cultivate both technical and creative skills. The ability to bridge technical execution and creative vision is increasingly valuable in almost every field. Being able to both imagine new possibilities and understand how to implement them gives you a tremendous advantage. Don’t let yourself be categorized as either “technical” or “creative”—strive to develop both sides.

Share what you learn. Teaching others—whether through formal workshops or simply helping classmates—deepens your own understanding and builds your professional network. Some of my most valuable professional connections came from teaching game design workshops, where sharing my knowledge led to unexpected opportunities.

Stay curious about emerging technologies, but focus on fundamentals. Specific tools and platforms will change rapidly throughout your career. While it’s important to stay current, invest more deeply in understanding fundamental principles that transfer across technologies. In XR, understanding human perception and spatial design principles has proven more valuable than expertise in any particular software.

Find joy in your work. The most sustainable career path is one that energizes rather than depletes you. Pay attention to which activities give you energy and which drain it. For me, creating experiences that help people understand complex concepts brings genuine satisfaction that sustains me through challenges.

Remember that your career will likely span decades and multiple technological revolutions. Building adaptability, curiosity, and creative problem-solving skills will serve you better than specializing too narrowly in today’s technologies.

Future Plans?

Looking ahead, I’m focused on exploring the next frontier of XR technology while deepening my impact in education and beyond. My vision unfolds across several dimensions:

In the immediate future, I’m expanding my expertise with advanced VR platforms like the Quest 3, particularly focusing on mixed reality applications that blend virtual elements with the physical world. My “Artifact Lens” project for archaeological fieldwork is just the beginning of exploring how mixed reality can transform professional workflows across disciplines.

I’m particularly excited about developing more natural interaction systems for XR—moving beyond controllers and menus to interfaces that feel intuitive and magical. My current work on voice-activated spell casting mechanics is part of this broader interest in creating experiences that feel seamless and embodied rather than technical and abstract.

Beyond technical explorations, I’m planning to expand my educational impact. The game design workshops I’ve conducted have shown me the tremendous potential in empowering young people to become creators rather than just consumers of technology. I aim to develop a more structured curriculum that makes XR development accessible to students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those who might not see themselves as “technical.”

I’m also interested in exploring applications of XR beyond entertainment and education—particularly in healthcare, cultural heritage preservation, and assistive technology. These fields present meaningful challenges where spatially aware computing could significantly improve people’s lives.

On a personal level, I hope to continue balancing practical industry work with experimental projects that push boundaries. The freedom to explore unconventional ideas has been crucial to my growth so far, and I want to maintain that creative exploration even as I take on more structured professional responsibilities.

Ultimately, my goal isn’t tied to any specific technology but to the broader mission of making complex concepts intuitive through immersive design. As XR technology evolves—perhaps eventually into more seamless augmented reality glasses or neural interfaces—I want to remain at the forefront of creating experiences that enhance human understanding and capability.

The most exciting aspect of working in such a rapidly evolving field is that some of my most significant future contributions might involve technologies or applications that don’t even exist yet. That openness to possibilities is what continues to make this journey so rewarding.