Work Experience
UNTAME
(2013- Current)
Game Designer
Designed the UX and tutorial systems for Mushroom 11, our homebrew award-winning puzzle platformer. I used playtesting data to craft puzzles and experiences designed to teach players core concepts. I gave a talk on my findings at Games For Change 2015.
THE GAME AGENCY
(2015- Current)
UX, Instructional and Game Design Consultant
Worked on a dozen client-facing and internal projects using game systems to support learning and user behavioral changes. I focused my designs on UX of tool and game systems. Various examples include an educational game for high school students on managing social media and a training game for Risk Officers of various financial products.
HITPOINT STUDIOS
(2014- 2016)
Game Design Consultant
Game and content design for DeNA’s Hell Mary’s card battling game system. Worked on game design consulting for various project pitches.
ARKADIUM
(2006- 2013)
Game Designer and Developer
Co-ran the R&D department. I pitched and prototyped various games, was responsible for 3 company wide game jams, and ran internal company education. Prior to that, I was a designer, artist and programmer for dozens of online, mobile, social and downloadable games.
EDUCATION
CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART
(2001- 2006)
BFA: Digital Arts Major
For my thesis project, I developed an educational game for 2nd graders in a public school system. I worked with educators to develop a game that helped teach science content as part of the common core teaching
standards for the state.
Skills and Tools
User Testing
Vast experience conducting user testing and user focused groups, and compiling data gathered into clear takeaways for the development team.
Wireframing
Plenty of experience creating wireframes, comp outlines and pitch documents, with Balsamiq, Figma and Adobe XD.
Prototyping
I find prototyping the most effective tool for testing out concepts. I use a collection of physical objects for table top prototyping, Twine or BranchTrack for narrative prototyping, Hype for web prototypes, and Unity for other prototypes.
Software Applications
Adobe PS, Animate, XD, Audition, Premiere
Unity, Hype (Flash)
Google Sheets, Excel, Draw.io
Languages
JavaScript, C#
Public Speaking, Articles, AWARDS
Game Developers Conference 2018
Inequality and Player Behavior
Chicago Camps (UX Conference) 2017
User Testing on a Shoestring Budget
Game Developers Conference 2017
Indigenous Games Lighting Talks, promoting the importance for game designers to explore different system think across cultures.
Game Developers Conference 2016
History Shaping Design: Gender Roles Shown Through The History of Tabletop Games
Game Developers Confrence 2015
History Shaping Design: Tales Told by Early American Board games.
Smart Tutorials: Teaching by Design
Teaching by Design
DMW NY Games Conference 2014
How to market your game on a shoestring budget.
Interviewed by Buzzfeed as part of women in the games industry.
Interviewed by Wired about early American board game design.
Made an appearance on Game Loading: Rise of the Indies
Mushroom 11 won numerous awards including the Apple Design Award 2017, Google Play Award 2017
Rock, Paper, Shotgun's Best Platformer of 2015
IGN's List of Best Platformers and Most Innovative Games of 2015, Best Indie Game 4G at Tokyo Game Show 2015, IGF Design Nomination 2014, PAX 10 2014
Niiwin won Best Game Design 2015 Global Game Jam, NYU Game Center.
IGDA GDC Mentor 2015- 2016
IndieCade 2013 Official Selection for Super Secret Spiesand Spaghetti Stand off.
Stevie® Award Winner: Employee of the Year Award 2011
IGDA GDC Scholar 2006