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