Digital Media CMS

Author: Alexis Raya

  • Digital Media Student Spotlight – Preeti Shenoy

    Meet Preeti Shenoy, a current Digital Media Master’s student at Drexel University expected to graduate in 2025. Preeti’s journey through the program exemplifies the transformative power of stepping outside one’s comfort zone while discovering new creative possibilities through technology and interactive design.

    Finding the Right Fit

    Preeti’s path to Drexel’s Digital Media Master’s program was driven by both practical considerations and creative inspiration. While the program’s economic accessibility initially caught her attention, it was the impressive work of previous graduates that truly inspired her to apply. Seeing the innovative projects and creative outputs from alumni demonstrated the program’s potential to nurture meaningful digital media work.

    Expanding Creative Horizons

    Throughout her time in the program, Preeti has been drawn to courses that challenge traditional boundaries of interaction and creativity. She particularly enjoyed IDM 617, a UX research methods class that provided her with valuable analytical skills. Additionally, DIGM 520 and 521 opened her eyes to new possibilities within interactive media, expanding her understanding of what could be considered interactive design.

    These courses didn’t just teach technical skills—they fundamentally shifted how Preeti thinks about digital experiences and user engagement.

    Growing Through Challenge

    One of the most significant challenges Preeti faced was adapting to the program’s ambitious scope. Many classes encourage students to experiment with a wide range of technologies, which initially felt overwhelming. However, this challenge became a catalyst for growth.

    The experience pushed her well outside her comfort zone and helped her develop confidence in tackling unfamiliar technology. She now approaches new tools and platforms with the mindset of figuring things out as she goes—a skill that proves invaluable in the rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

    A Horror Game with Vintage Flair

    The project Preeti is most proud of demonstrates her creative growth and technical development: a point-and-click horror game inspired by the movie Longlegs. Created for DIGM 540, a class that encourages broad exploration within digital media, the project allowed her to combine storytelling, visual design, and interactive programming.

    The game’s concept was ambitious in its attention to historical detail. Since Longlegs is set in the 1990s, Preeti wanted the game to feel authentic to that era. She conducted extensive research into Windows 97’s user interface, microinteractions, and graphics to create an immersive experience that transported players back to that specific technological moment.

    Her technical approach involved creating assets in Figma before importing them into Unity for animation and interactivity. While she had some previous Unity experience, this marked her first attempt at creating something entirely from scratch without instruction. The learning process of figuring out how to maximize the project’s interactivity proved both challenging and deeply rewarding.

    Current Endeavors

    Currently, Preeti is balancing two major projects: her thesis and her senior project. Though different in content, she’s begun to notice interesting overlaps between them. This experience allows her to apply knowledge from her undergraduate education alongside the research methods and theoretical frameworks gained through the master’s program.

    The synthesis of these different academic experiences is helping her see how various aspects of her education connect and reinforce each other.

    Career Perspective

    Preeti’s time at Drexel has given her valuable insight into the demands of the digital media industry. She recognizes that there’s often demand for “unicorns”—professionals who can handle multiple aspects of digital media production. Her education has provided her with the opportunity to explore this versatility before committing to it as a career path.

    With both undergraduate and graduate experience, she feels equipped with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to understand her professional options and make informed decisions about her future direction.

    Advice for Future Students

    For those considering or beginning the Digital Media Master’s program, Preeti offers encouraging wisdom: “Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you approach the degree with the mindset that you’re here to learn something valuable, even the hard parts start to feel rewarding.”

    This mindset has clearly served her well throughout her own journey of creative and technical growth.

    Connect with Preeti: LinkedIn | Instagram | Portfolio (Coming Soon)

  • Drexel in Los Angeles: Your Gateway to the Entertainment Industry

    For aspiring entertainment professionals at Drexel University, the path to Hollywood doesn’t have to wait until after graduation. Since 2011, the Drexel in Los Angeles (DiLA) program has been connecting students directly to the heart of the entertainment industry through an immersive summer experience…

    For aspiring entertainment professionals at Drexel University, the path to Hollywood doesn’t have to wait until after graduation. Since 2011, the Drexel in Los Angeles (DiLA) program has been connecting students directly to the heart of the entertainment industry through an immersive summer experience that combines professional internships, specialized coursework, and cultural exploration.

    A Comprehensive Industry Immersion

    Established within Drexel’s tradition of experiential learning, DiLA was designed to strengthen students’ access to the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. This intensive summer study away program supports students as they navigate professional internships during the day while taking specialized industry-focused classes in the evenings.

    What sets DiLA apart from typical study abroad experiences is its deliberate focus on professional development within a specific industry. Students don’t just visit Los Angeles—they become part of its professional ecosystem through meaningful internships at production companies, studios, talent agencies, and other entertainment organizations.

    Beyond the Classroom and Office

    While internships and coursework form the core of the program, DiLA also emphasizes cultural immersion. Students participate in additional educational and cultural programming that highlights the diverse experiences Los Angeles has to offer.

    Past participants have enjoyed organized excursions to iconic destinations including:

    • Disneyland
    • Hollywood Walking Tours
    • The Magic Castle
    • Baseball games at Dodger Stadium
    • Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier
    • Warner Bros. Studio Tours

    Some events are included in the program, while others are ticketed events that students can opt into, allowing for a customizable experience of the city’s cultural landscape.

    Specialized Coursework

    Evening classes in DiLA are designed to complement students’ daytime internship experiences with industry-specific knowledge. The curriculum features courses such as:

    • An Evening With…: Face-to-face conversations and lectures with industry professionals and Drexel alumni working in Hollywood
    • TV Industry: An overview of the organizational structures and business models utilized by current television content and distribution companies
    • Industry Communication & Creative: A crash-course in professional conduct, communication, and navigating the L.A. entertainment industry

    It’s important to note that classes taught in Los Angeles do not replace required courses for students’ majors. Participants should plan accordingly and consult with their Program Directors about making up any required courses typically offered during summer terms.

    Internship Expectations

    Weekday internships form the backbone of the DiLA experience. Students are expected to work professional internships during standard business hours, with some ambitious participants balancing two positions simultaneously. While most internships in the entertainment industry are historically unpaid, these positions provide invaluable experience, connections, and portfolio materials. In some cases, unpaid positions have led to paid work opportunities.

    A Year-Long Journey

    While DiLA takes place during the summer, it’s actually a year-long commitment that begins in the fall term prior. Throughout fall, winter, and spring terms, participants attend group sessions and one-on-one meetings, meet preparation deadlines, research internship opportunities, and follow up on leads provided by the program.

    This extended preparation period ensures that students arrive in Los Angeles with connections already forming and a strategic plan for making the most of their summer experience.

    Who Can Participate

    DiLA is administered within Drexel’s Department of Cinema & Television and is open to full-time students in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. Eligible majors include those in the Department of Cinema & Television or related fields in Digital Media, Entertainment & Arts Management, and Music Industry.

    Building Your Hollywood Network

    Perhaps the most valuable aspect of DiLA is the opportunity to build a professional network in Los Angeles before graduation. Through internship supervisors, guest speakers, alumni connections, and industry events, students begin developing the professional relationships that often prove crucial in entertainment careers.

    Many Drexel alumni currently working in Hollywood credit DiLA with giving them the connections, experience, and confidence needed to successfully relocate to Los Angeles after graduation and hit the ground running in their careers.

    Taking the First Step

    For eligible Drexel students interested in entertainment careers, DiLA represents an unparalleled opportunity to test the waters in Los Angeles, build a professional network, and gain industry-specific experience before graduation. The program exemplifies Drexel’s commitment to experiential learning, creating a bridge between academic study and professional practice in one of the world’s most competitive industries.

    Students interested in participating should reach out to the Department of Cinema & Television for information about upcoming information sessions and application deadlines.

  • Drexel CHI UX Club: Where Design Meets Community

    The Drexel CHI User Experience Club stands as a vibrant hub for students passionate about user experience, human-computer interaction, and design. As an official campus chapter of ACM SIGCHI (Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction), the club connects Drexel students to the broader professional UX community…

    The Drexel CHI User Experience Club stands as a vibrant hub for students passionate about user experience, human-computer interaction, and design. As an official campus chapter of ACM SIGCHI (Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction), the club connects Drexel students to the broader professional UX community while fostering collaboration and skill development on campus.

    A Mission to Empower Creative Minds

    Since its founding in 2019, the Drexel CHI UX Club has dedicated itself to showing creative students how they can translate their passion into sustainable careers. The organization provides a supportive community where members can share ideas, collaborate on projects, and develop professionally in the rapidly evolving field of user experience.

    The club aims to bridge the gap between creative passion and professional practice by offering specialized workshops that promote good practices in UX while building a community of like-minded individuals who support each other’s growth.

    Inclusive by Design

    True to the principles of good user experience, the Drexel CHI UX Club embraces inclusivity in its membership. The club welcomes students from all majors and academic levels, including undergraduate and master’s students. This interdisciplinary approach creates a rich environment where diverse perspectives contribute to more innovative thinking about design and user experience.

    Learning Through Doing

    The club’s calendar features a variety of engaging events designed to build both technical skills and professional networks:

    • Design Slams: Fast-paced creative challenges that push participants to apply design thinking under time constraints
    • Educational Workshops: Including sessions on Dark Patterns in UX that reveal how apps and websites can manipulate users and how to recognize these tactics
    • Technical Skill Building: Hands-on workshops with industry-standard tools like Figma that help members build practical skills
    • Portfolio Reviews: Opportunities for members to receive feedback on their work from peers and sometimes industry professionals
    • Social Events: Regular gatherings like picnics that strengthen the community bonds beyond the classroom or lab
    • Annual Carnival Fundraiser: A creative way to engage the broader campus community while supporting the club’s activities

    Connected to the Broader Community

    The Drexel CHI UX Club maintains strong connections that extend beyond campus. Their affiliation with ACM SIGCHI provides members with access to resources, publications, and events from the world’s leading organization for professionals involved in human-technology interaction.

    The club regularly collaborates with their sister organization, Philly CHI—another chapter of ACM SIGCHI open to UX/UI professionals and enthusiasts throughout Philadelphia. This connection offers students valuable networking opportunities and insights into the local industry landscape.

    On campus, the club has built partnerships with other student organizations, including:

    • Drexel UXID Program: Collaborating on events that complement classroom learning
    • Drexel Hack4Impact: Partnering for JavaScript workshops that build technical skills
    • Drexel AI: Engaging in discussions about artificial intelligence and its relationship to user experience

    Leadership Development

    While the club operates as a collaborative community throughout the year, it opens applications for Executive Board positions every spring. These leadership roles offer students the chance to develop organizational and management skills while shaping the direction of the club.

    Join the Community

    For students interested in exploring user experience or building on existing skills, the Drexel CHI UX Club offers an accessible entry point into both the discipline and its professional community. The club demonstrates how UX extends beyond the classroom, creating opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in practical, creative ways.

    Whether you’re a design major looking to refine your UX skills or a student from another discipline curious about how user experience might connect to your field, the Drexel CHI UX Club provides a welcoming community where creativity and technology intersect.

    Stay connected with the club:

    Instagram: @drexelchi

    DrangonLink: Drexel CHI UX Club

  • Step Right Up to the Drexel CHI UX Carnival

    When winter quarter arrives at Drexel University, the lobby of Westphal’s URBN Center transforms into a festive escape from academic pressures. Cotton candy swirls, popcorn pops, and laughter echoes as students line up for games, treats, and the chance to pie a club officer in the face. Welcome to the annual Drexel CHI Carnival—a spirited tradition that has quickly become one of campus’s most anticipated community events.

    Not Your Average Fundraiser

    Since its inception in 2022, the Drexel CHI Carnival has redefined what a student organization fundraiser can be. Rather than taking the conventional route of partnering with local restaurants or hosting a simple bake sale, the CHI UX Club’s Executive Board decided to create something more engaging and memorable.

    The carnival represents a refreshing departure from typical fundraising approaches. Instead of merely collecting donations, the event creates a genuine experience that brings people together and offers students a welcome break from the intensity of classes while supporting the club’s activities throughout the year.

    The result is an event that combines free offerings like cotton candy and popcorn with ticketed attractions including a bake sale, original artwork created by club leadership, face painting, and themed carnival games. In past years, brave E-Board members have even volunteered for the popular “Pie a CHI” booth, where students could purchase tickets for the chance to deliver a whipped cream pie to a willing club officer’s face.

    Creating Campus Connections

    While the carnival serves as a crucial fundraiser for the club’s year-round programming, its impact extends far beyond the financial. The event has become a community touchstone that brings together students from across disciplines and programs.

    In one particularly heartwarming instance, a Drexel professor paused class 15 minutes early to bring their entire class to the carnival, purchasing tickets for each student to enjoy the festivities. These kinds of spontaneous connections exemplify the community-building potential of the event.

    The timing of the carnival—typically during winter quarter—provides a welcome respite from both academic pressures and Philadelphia’s chilly temperatures. By transforming the URBN Center lobby into a colorful carnival atmosphere, the event creates a pocket of joy during one of the most demanding periods of the academic year.

    Funding Future Experiences

    Proceeds from the carnival directly support the Drexel CHI UX Club’s diverse programming throughout the year. The funds help provide refreshments for meetings, materials for hands-on workshops (like paints and canvases for design-themed social events), and resources for educational sessions focused on user experience and design.

    By attending and participating in the carnival, students not only enjoy an afternoon of fun but also invest in future opportunities to learn, connect, and develop professional skills through the club’s activities.

    A Tradition in the Making

    Though relatively young as campus traditions go, the CHI Carnival has consistently met its fundraising goals while drawing impressive attendance numbers. The event’s success demonstrates the power of creative thinking in student organization management—an approach that, fittingly, reflects the design thinking principles at the heart of the CHI UX Club itself.

    Rather than viewing the carnival as a direct application of user experience principles, the club sees it as complementary to their more focused professional activities. The carnival provides a needed counterbalance to the seriousness of classes and career-oriented workshops, reminding everyone that play and creativity are essential elements of a well-designed university experience.

    Mark Your Calendars

    For Drexel students looking for a break from routine or simply craving cotton candy on a winter afternoon, the annual CHI Carnival offers a perfect opportunity to connect with fellow students while supporting one of campus’s most active organizations.

    Keep an eye on the Drexel CHI UX Club’s Instagram @drexelchi during winter quarter for announcements about the next carnival date. Whether you’re drawn by the sweet treats, the chance to discover student artwork, or the opportunity to pie someone in the face for a good cause, the CHI Carnival promises an experience worth stepping away from your studies for.

  • Digital Media Student Spotlight: Varun Mahadev

    Meet Varun Mahadev, a 2024 graduate of Drexel University’s Digital Media Master’s program who is currently making waves as an AI Consultant at URBN (Urban Outfitters Inc.). Varun’s journey through the program exemplifies how creative vision combined with technical expertise can lead to innovative work at the intersection of art, technology, and user experience.

    A Journey of Interdisciplinary Learning

    Varun was drawn to Drexel’s Digital Media Master’s program for its unique interdisciplinary approach. He sought a program that merged creative expression with emerging technology, where he could explore how tools like AI, UX, and generative design could reshape storytelling, interaction, and visual communication. Drexel provided the ideal environment for this exploration.

    Making an Impact Beyond the Classroom

    One of Varun’s most meaningful experiences came through his contribution to “Plumes and Pixels,” a collaborative project led by Professor Emil Polyak in partnership with The Academy of Natural Sciences. Though not part of the core curriculum, his enrollment in the Digital Media program opened the door to join the team as a student collaborator.

    The project explored biodiversity through interactive 3D visualization and digital storytelling. Varun and the team utilized advanced 3D scanning and reconstruction techniques, including neural radiance fields (NeRFs) and Gaussian Splatting, to create detailed and photorealistic models of ornithological specimens. Their work integrated scientific accuracy with cutting-edge rendering technology to engage museum audiences in innovative ways.

    The impact of this work extended beyond the university, earning recognition through publication at SIGGRAPH Asia 2024. For Varun, this experience reinforced the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and expanded his understanding of research-based creative work.

    A Transformative Mindset Shift

    Adapting to the interdisciplinary nature of the program presented one of Varun’s biggest challenges. Coming from a more tool-driven background, he initially focused on mastering specific software or techniques.

    A turning point came when a mentor advised: “Don’t get fixated on tools—focus on the outcome. The tools are just a means to an end.” This perspective shift—learning to approach problems from a conceptual level and think beyond platforms—proved both challenging and transformative.

    This new mindset pushed Varun to become more adaptable, creative, and solution-oriented in his work. The ability to think beyond specific tools now informs all his professional endeavors, especially when working with emerging technologies like AI and generative systems.

    Reimagining Human-Computer Interaction

    Varun’s crowning achievement during the program was his graduate thesis, which reimagined the future of human-computer interaction through a speculative framework centered on adaptive, AI-generated interfaces. The project explored how emerging technologies like large language models and generative systems could shift the paradigm from static graphical interfaces to more dynamic, context-aware interactions.

    Drawing on principles of UX, cognitive load theory, and speculative design, his work proposed new possibilities for how we engage with operating systems. This ambitious project allowed Varun to synthesize creative technology, research, and systems thinking into a cohesive vision for what digital experiences could become.

    Professional Impact

    Today, Varun applies the skills and perspective gained at Drexel as an AI Consultant at URBN (Urban Outfitters Inc.). His role involves designing AI-driven automation solutions that enhance creative workflows across the organization.

    His work spans developing generative image and video tools, fine-tuning open-source AI models, and building internal pipelines that make complex AI systems more intuitive and accessible for creative teams. At the core of his work is the goal of bridging advanced machine learning capabilities with user-centered design, enabling more efficient, scalable, and inspiring creative processes.

    Drexel’s Lasting Influence

    The Digital Media program equipped Varun with both technical fluency and interdisciplinary design thinking—critical skills for navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of creative AI. He credits the program’s emphasis on both conceptual rigor and hands-on experimentation with enabling him to bridge theory and real-world application.

    This foundation has been instrumental in his current role, where he designs and builds advanced AI tools operating at the intersection of technology, creativity, and user experience.

    Advice to Future Students

    For those following in his footsteps, Varun offers succinct but powerful advice: “Stay curious and experiment boldly.” In a rapidly evolving field like digital media, he encourages students to explore new technologies, collaborate with people outside their comfort zones, and treat every project as a chance to prototype their future.

    Varun’s work demonstrates how Drexel’s Digital Media program serves as a launchpad for careers that blend creativity, technology, and innovation in ways that shape the future of digital experiences.

    Connect with Varun: LinkedIn

  • Digital Media Student Spotlight: Lianna Wang

    Meet Lianna Wang, a talented UX Designer and current Digital Media Master’s student at Drexel University. With her expected graduation in 2025, Lianna is already making her mark through innovative projects that blend design thinking with real-world impact.

    A Journey of Interdisciplinary Learning

    Lianna’s decision to join Drexel’s Digital Media Master’s program stemmed from her desire to deepen her understanding of user experience design while expanding her horizons. She was drawn to the interdisciplinary perspectives offered through Drexel’s HCI, digital media, and animation courses.

    For Lianna, the program represented an opportunity to challenge herself academically while broadening her expertise across design, research, and emerging technologies. This interdisciplinary approach has allowed her to develop a versatile skill set that spans multiple domains within digital media.

    Exploring Inclusive Design

    Among her most impactful educational experiences, Lianna highlights INFO 609, Accessible and Inclusive Design. The course opened her eyes to how digital environments can unintentionally exclude users with diverse needs.

    A standout aspect of the course involved interviewing individuals from underserved communities and developing prototypes tailored to their specific challenges. This experience emphasized the importance of empathy, understanding, and having underrepresented voices in the room during the design process.

    Embracing New Challenges

    Lianna’s growth during the program has come through stepping outside her comfort zone. One particularly challenging yet rewarding experience involved a New Media Project incorporating augmented reality, motion capture, and animation.

    Coming from a UX design background, this project pushed Lianna well beyond her familiar territory. She quickly adapted to new tools and creative workflows, collaborating with animators and developers in ways she hadn’t before. The experience required her to learn Unity, Unreal Engine, and Maya—tools she hadn’t previously worked with. Despite the learning curve, this interdisciplinary project ultimately broadened her skillset and helped her become a more versatile and open-minded designer.

    Real World Impact Through Design

    A project Lianna is particularly proud of came through DSRE 620, Design Problem Solving, where her class partnered with Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation. She tackled medical waste management as part of Penn Medicine’s sustainability initiative.

    Her process involved on-site observations and interviews with medical staff and the Senior Director of Design & Strategy. The hospital setting presented unique challenges, pushing her to apply design thinking in a completely different context.

    Her solution—an add-on system to standardize biohazard waste bins and reduce friction for correct sorting—demonstrated the potential for design to create meaningful impact in healthcare settings. While the final deliverable was a proof of concept, Lianna takes particular pride in creating something with real-world application and potential for tangible impact.

    Research Methods and Tools

    Lianna’s approach combined traditional design methods with field research:

    • Fly-on-the-wall observation at the hospital
    • Stakeholder interviews
    • Affinity diagramming for synthesizing findings
    • Sketching and wireframing for prototype development
    • Collaborative visualization using Figma and Miro

    The process taught her “how to gather meaningful insights in complex, fast-paced environments like hospitals,” skills that transfer across numerous design contexts.

    Current Projects and Future Plans

    Currently, Lianna is balancing several significant projects. She’s writing a thesis on Dark UX patterns, exploring “how digital literacy education can help users better recognize and resist manipulative design tactics.” Simultaneously, she’s working on her senior capstone as a UX designer for a subletting platform aimed at helping young adults find and list sublets more securely.

    Her professional trajectory is already taking shape—after graduation, Lianna will be returning to Nuuly (Urban Outfitters, Inc) full-time as a Jr UX Designer.

    The Drexel Advantage

    Lianna credits Drexel’s accelerated degree program with allowing her to explore advanced topics “that aren’t typically covered in undergraduate coursework such as AI ethics, designing assistive technology, and advanced data visualization.”

    The co-op system has also been instrumental in her development, giving her “the opportunity to work on various projects with real-world relevance and discover what field or type of work I’d like to pursue.”

    Looking ahead, Lianna is excited to pursue roles that combine UX design with social impact, bringing together her technical skills and her passion for creating meaningful change.

    Advice to Future Students

    For those considering the Digital Media Master’s program, Lianna offers practical wisdom: start thinking about your thesis or capstone early and try to complete as many credits as possible in earlier terms. This approach provides the time and flexibility needed to dive deep into final projects.

    She also encourages students to explore beyond their comfort zones while maintaining focus on their goals. Taking electives outside familiar territory can be valuable, but it’s important to remember the limited number of electives available and to keep main educational objectives in mind.

    Connect with Lianna: LinkedIn Portfolio

  • Digital Media Student Spotlight: Alexander Lukacs

    Meet Alexander Lukacs, a current Digital Media Master’s student at Drexel University who is charting a unique path in UX Research. Originally a mechanical engineering student, Alexander transferred to Drexel to pursue UX Design before discovering his true passion for research methodologies.

    Finding a New Direction

    Alexander’s journey to the Digital Media Master’s program followed an unexpected route. “Originally I was a mechanical engineering transfer student from a different school, and I came to Drexel to pursue UX Design in the undergrad program,” he explains. During his undergraduate studies, his interests evolved, shifting focus from design to research.

    “I ended up in the DIGM Masters program because I thought producing a piece of research for my thesis would greatly advance my skills as a UX Researcher,” Alexander shares. “Being able to show off that I can apply the research skills I learned in classes to produce something novel is quite valuable.”

    Educational Highlights

    While navigating the program, Alexander has been strategic in tailoring his coursework to focus on UX Research methodologies. His favorite course, User Research Methodologies, gave him the opportunity to put his skills into practice.

    One particularly formative experience involved “putting together an evaluative research plan and executing it, then presenting on my findings to the class.” This hands-on experience helped solidify his research capabilities and provided a platform to demonstrate his analytical skills.

    Tools & Techniques

    Alexander’s technical toolkit includes a robust mix of research and design software:

    • Figma and FigJam for collaborative design work
    • Qualtrics for survey design and distribution
    • SPSS for statistical analysis
    • Zoom for remote research sessions
    • Both qualitative and quantitative research methods

    Currently, he’s focusing his energy on his thesis proposal, where he’ll have the opportunity to apply the full breadth of his research expertise.

    Career Perspectives

    Drexel’s program has been instrumental in helping Alexander refine his career aspirations. “Drexel helped me discover UX Research, where I can apply analytical and logical thinking, but also move fast and not get bored,” he reflects.

    He particularly credits the co-op program as pivotal in his professional development: “The co-op program especially has helped me figure out what I want to do with my career.” This real-world experience has reinforced his passion for UX Research and provided clarity on his professional trajectory.

    Advice to Future Students

    For students considering Drexel’s Digital Media program, Alexander offers practical advice: “Don’t be afraid to get approval to take classes outside of DIGM and Westphal – there are some cool classes out there that don’t have technical pre-reqs, but can be applicable to your area of study.”

    This cross-disciplinary approach has helped Alexander build a unique skill set that bridges technical knowledge with research expertise.

    Connect with Alexander: LinkedIn | Portfolio

  • Digital Media Alumni Spotlight: Steven McInerney

    Meet Steven McInerney, a 2024 graduate of Drexel University’s User Experience & Interaction Design (UXID) program. Steven’s passion for solving real-world problems through thoughtful design has guided his journey into the tech industry, where he currently works as a UI Designer for a fast-growing startup.

    Drexel Experience

    Steven’s favorite project at Drexel was Clink, a cocktail recommendation app that he developed with his senior project team. This project was a turning point in his academic journey, allowing him to fully immerse himself in the design process and realize his desire for a career in UX. Despite the long hours spent prototyping and refining user flows, Steven found the experience deeply rewarding, as it transformed his understanding of design from a creative interest to a professional pursuit.

    Career Path & Achievements

    Currently, Steven is a UI Designer at DoorSpot, a startup focused on helping people rent and find properties through intuitive digital dashboards. In this role, he designs key user flows and UI elements, applying the same skills he honed during his time in Drexel’s UXID program. Outside of work, Steven enjoys traveling abroad with friends, drawing inspiration from the diverse cultures and environments he encounters.

    Advice to Students

    Steven encourages students to try different roles in class projects, whether it’s design, research, or development. He believes that college and co-op experiences are the best times to explore new skills, as these early trials make adapting to professional environments much easier. His advice for aspiring designers? “Don’t shy away from trying different roles—this is your time to experiment and grow.”

    Connect with Steven: LinkedIn

  • Silent Emotion: Capturing Conflict in Character Animation

    Silent Emotion: Capturing Conflict in Character Animation

    In the ANFX Character Animation II course at Drexel University, students explore the art of human facial deformation and movement as it relates to thought-driven performance. It’s a class that challenges animators to go beyond technical execution, asking them to consider how emotion lives in the details—especially when there’s no dialogue to rely on.

    One final project from this term stands out as a stunning example of that challenge in action. The animation focuses on a heated argument between two women, and while it plays out in total silence, the emotional intensity is undeniable.

    Facial Animation as Performance

    What makes this animation truly memorable is the care the student put into the facial expressions. The performance doesn’t rely on exaggerated cartoonish motions—instead, it leans into realism. Small, subtle shifts in the eyebrows, eyelids, and jawline do the heavy lifting, capturing the nuance of frustration and anger with remarkable precision.

    Reading Emotion Without Sound

    Even in the absence of audio, the scene feels loud. You can almost hear the characters yelling, feel their tension rise, and sense the moment just before one interrupts the other. It’s a clear demonstration of how facial animation can drive narrative and emotion just as powerfully as voice acting—if not more so.

    Animating the Whole Character

    Beyond the facial detail, the student took full advantage of body language to support the storytelling. Weight shifts, posture changes, hand gestures—each element adds to the performance and deepens the emotional impact. Together, these physical cues bring the characters to life, giving them presence, intention, and urgency.

    The animation feels polished, smooth, and emotionally rich. It’s more than just a technical achievement—it’s a thoughtful character study that invites viewers into the story without needing a single line of dialogue. It’s this kind of work that showcases what’s possible when animation is used not just to move characters, but to make them feel alive.

  • MoodSense: Revolutionizing Mood Tracking with Smart Ring Technology

    In an era where mental health awareness is paramount, MoodSense emerges as an innovative solution developed by a student from Drexel University’s User Experience and Interaction Design (UXID) program. This Apple Watch interface, paired with smart ring technology, aims to accurately detect users’ moods and provide personalized activities for self-improvement.

    The Challenge: Beyond Novelty Mood Rings

    Traditional mood rings, while popular, are merely novelty items that change color based on body heat. MoodSense addresses this limitation by leveraging advanced smart ring technology to provide accurate mood detection based on comprehensive health data.

    Innovative Technology

    MoodSense utilizes PPG (Photoplethysmography) technology in smart rings to collect various health metrics from the skin’s surface, including:

    • Sleep patterns
    • Body temperature
    • Heart rate
    • Activity levels
    • Blood oxygen
    • Stress levels
    Design Process and Features

    The development of MoodSense followed a comprehensive process:

    • Competitor Research: Identified gaps in existing smart ring applications.
    • Wireframing: Created low-fidelity prototypes to plan screens and navigation.
    • Design Inspiration: Drew from Apple Watch design standards and mood ring aesthetics.
    • Style Guide: Developed a cohesive visual language for the app.
    • Final Design: Refined the interface based on critical user paths.

    Key Features

    MoodSense offers unique functionalities:

    • Accurate mood identification based on health data
    • Personalized activity suggestions for mood improvement
    • Social features to send encouragement to friends
    • Color and shape associations for different moods

    User Experience

    The final prototype, created using Figma, offers an interactive experience showcasing the app’s core functionalities. Users can explore mood detection, receive personalized activities, and engage with friends, all through an intuitive Apple Watch interface.

    MoodSense represents a significant step forward in mood tracking and mental health support. By combining cutting-edge smart ring technology with a user-friendly Apple Watch interface, it offers users a powerful tool to understand and improve their emotional well-being.