Enhancing Accessibility & Inclusion on The Arc of DFW (2024)
Redesigned a nonprofit site to enhance accessibility, reduce maintenance workload, and scale with the organization.
Optimizing Waste Reducution Across the Dining Supply Chain (2024)
Designed a data-driven system to reduce waste in UNT Dining Services.
Explore my other works!
Optimizing Waste Reducution Across the Dining Supply Chain (2024)
Designed a data-driven system to reduce waste in UNT Dining Services.
Enhancing Accessibility & Inclusion on The Arc of DFW (2024)
Redesigned a nonprofit site to enhance accessibility, reduce maintenance workload, and scale with the organization.
Optimizing Waste Reducution Across the Dining Supply Chain (2024)
Designed a data-driven system to reduce waste in UNT Dining Services.
Explore my other works!
With Sacred Roots…
…all Natives can stay connected – stay rooted – in the communities that give them identity.
…all Natives can stay connected – stay rooted – in the communities that give them identity.
With Sacred Roots…
Native American Communities are Fragmenting
Native American Communities are Fragmenting
Native American Communities are Fragmenting
Conversations with Natives across 5+ tribes highlighted how elders shape Native identity.
Conversations with Natives across 5+ tribes highlighted how elders shape Native identity.
Conversations with Natives across 5+ tribes highlighted how elders shape Native identity.
Our team surveyed & interviewed 60+ Native community stakeholders, identifying 6 key segments to develop personas.
Our team surveyed & interviewed 60+ Native community stakeholders, identifying 6 key segments to develop personas.
Our team surveyed & interviewed 60+ Native community stakeholders, identifying 6 key segments to develop personas.
200 ideas became 20 storyboards, & 20 storyboards became
5 key features.
200 ideas became 20 storyboards, & 20 storyboards became
5 key features.
200 ideas became 20 storyboards, & 20 storyboards became
5 key features.
We conducted 5 SWOT analyses to draw on the strengths of existing products.
We conducted 5 SWOT analyses to draw on the strengths of
existing products.
We conducted 5 SWOT analyses to draw on the strengths of existing products.
We split our approach into 3 prongs: mobile application, VR interactions, & a greater supporting ecosystem.
We split our approach into 3 prongs: mobile application, VR interactions, & a greater supporting ecosystem.
We split our approach into 3 prongs: mobile application, VR interactions, & a greater supporting ecosystem.
Our team posed the question:
How might AIAN elders & communities harness technology to stay connected & steward their cultural knowledge for future generations?
Our team posed the question:
How might AIAN elders & communities harness technology to stay connected & steward their cultural knowledge for future generations?
Our team posed the question:
How might AIAN elders & communities harness technology to stay connected & steward their cultural knowledge for
future generations?
As more Native Americans move off-reservation (78%), they face difficulties maintaining inter-generational communication. Vital cultural information becomes lost, leading to a slow cultural extinction.
As more Native Americans move off-reservation (78%), they face difficulties maintaining inter-generational communication. Vital cultural information becomes lost, leading to a slow cultural extinction.
As more Native Americans move off-reservation (78%), they face difficulties maintaining inter-generational communication. Vital cultural information becomes lost, leading to a slow cultural extinction.
“I wish I’d learned more from grandma – I lived 900 miles away, so we rarely talked. There’s so much about my culture I have to rediscover on my own.”
“I wish I’d learned more from grandma – I lived 900 miles away, so we rarely talked. There’s so much about my culture I have to rediscover on my own.”
“I wish I’d learned more from grandma – I lived 900 miles away, so we rarely talked. There’s so much about my culture I have to rediscover on my own.”
To ensure we built functional & flexible features, we explored current market offerings to identify how they onboarded users & scaled experiences.
This library of knowledge allowed us to design prototypes with seamless feature integrations
To ensure we built functional & flexible features, we explored current market offerings to identify how they onboarded users & scaled experiences.
This library of knowledge allowed us to design prototypes with seamless feature integrations
To ensure we built functional & flexible features, we explored current market offerings to identify how they onboarded users & scaled experiences.
This library of knowledge allowed us to design prototypes with seamless feature integrations
Based on our findings, we developed 6 user personas with 6 distinct stories to foundation our research & ideation.
Based on our findings, we developed 6 user personas with 6 distinct stories to foundation our research & ideation.
Based on our findings, we developed 6 user personas with 6 distinct stories to foundation our research & ideation.
“Our heritage is passed down through oral tradition: storytelling. That is how I learned what it means to be Navajo, what it means to be Native American: through the stories my grandmother shared.”
“Our heritage is passed down through oral tradition: storytelling. That is how I learned what it means to be Navajo, what it means to be Native American: through the stories my grandmother shared.”
“Our heritage is passed down through oral tradition: storytelling. That is how I learned what it means to be Navajo, what it means to be Native American: through the stories my grandmother shared.”
The Problem
The Problem
The Problem
Our Approach
Our Approach
Our Approach
What We Delivered
What We Delivered
What We Delivered
The Impact
The Impact
The Impact
Outcome
Outcome
Outcome
We provided a social platform with 5 key features gamify storytelling and information exchange, VR integration facilities hands-on ways for users to play and learn together, and a Net Promoter Score of 56 reflects high satisfaction among users testers
We provided a social platform with 5 key features gamify storytelling and information exchange, VR integration facilities hands-on ways for users to play and learn together, and a Net Promoter Score of 56 reflects high satisfaction among users testers
View our prototype!
View our prototype!
View our prototype!
We provided a social platform with 5 key features gamify storytelling and information exchange, VR integration facilities hands-on ways for users to play and learn together, and a Net Promoter Score of 56 reflects high satisfaction among users testers.
Role
Role
Role
Sacred Roots
Sacred Roots
Sacred Roots
Duration
Duration
Duration
Sacred Roots is an XR/VR social platform that empowers Indigenous Americans to reconstruct fragmented communities and stay connected with loved ones.
Sacred Roots is an XR/VR social platform that empowers Indigenous Americans to reconstruct fragmented communities and stay connected with loved ones.
Sacred Roots is an XR/VR social platform that empowers Indigenous Americans to reconstruct fragmented communities and stay connected with loved ones.
UX/UI Designer & Prototyper
UX/UI Designer & Prototyper
UX/UI Designer & Prototyper
4 Months
4 Months
4 Months
Reconnecting Natives are unable to learn more about their heritage and culture.
Reconnecting Natives are unable to learn more about their heritage and culture.
Native youth struggle to find a sense of identity and belonging, often turning to drugs.
Native youth struggle to find a sense of identity and belonging, often turning
to drugs.
Native youth struggle to find a sense of identity and belonging, often turning
to drugs.
Native youth struggle to find a sense of identity and belonging, often turning to drugs.
Native elders face social isolation, increasing their risk of death by over 400%.
Native elders face social isolation, increasing their risk of death by over 400%.
Native elders face social isolation, increasing their risk of death by over 400%.
We learned from:
Native Parents
Native Elders
Reconnecting Natives
Non-Native Tribal Relations/Non-Natives
We learned from:
Native Parents
Native Elders
Reconnecting Natives
Non-Native Tribal Relations/Non-Natives
We learned from:
Native Parents
Native Elders
Reconnecting Natives
Non-Native Tribal Relations/Non-Natives
Guided by our key considerations, we focused on blue-sky concepts & refined our ideas through a value-feasibility matrix.
Our final prototype features included:
Story/Podcast Creator
Tutorials & Classes
LiDAR Item Scanner & Collections
AI (LLM) Companion Chatbot
VR Sandbox Game
Guided by our key considerations, we focused on blue-sky concepts & refined our ideas through a value-feasibility matrix.
Our final prototype features included:
Story/Podcast Creator
Tutorials & Classes
LiDAR Item Scanner & Collections
AI (LLM) Companion Chatbot
VR Sandbox Game
Guided by our key considerations, we focused on blue-sky concepts & refined our ideas through a value-feasibility matrix.
Our final prototype features included:
Story/Podcast Creator
Tutorials & Classes
LiDAR Item Scanner & Collections
AI (LLM) Companion Chatbot
VR Sandbox Game
– Interview with Stephen, Sicangu Lakota
– Interview with Stephen, Sicangu Lakota
– Interview with Stephen, Sicangu Lakota
– Quote from Patty, Navajo Nation
– Quote from Patty, Navajo Nation
– Quote from Patty, Navajo Nation
Supporting Ecosystem: A “daisy chain” of workshops & Native businesses offering a physical community for people to be
involved in.
Supporting Ecosystem: A “daisy chain” of workshops & Native businesses offering a physical community for people to be involved in.
Supporting Ecosystem: A “daisy chain” of workshops & Native businesses offering a physical community for people to be involved in.
VR Environment: VR spaces serve as a hubs for hands-on learning experiences through simple quests & puzzles.
VR Environment: VR spaces serve as a hubs for hands-on learning experiences through simple quests & puzzles.
VR Environment: VR spaces serve as a hubs for hands-on learning experiences through simple quests & puzzles.
Social App: We ideated on Meta's Facebook & Messenger system to create a familiar yet customized experience for users.
Social App: We ideated on Meta's Facebook & Messenger system to create a familiar yet customized experience for users.
Social App: We ideated on Meta's Facebook & Messenger system to create a familiar yet customized experience for users.
Fristum Culling: Only items within the camera's view (blue cone) are rendered. © Guerrilla Games
Fristum Culling: Only items within the camera's view (blue cone) are rendered. © Guerrilla Games
Fristum Culling: Only items within the camera's view (blue cone) are rendered. © Guerrilla Games
Procedural Placement: Rather than hand-placing features, developers describe placement with rule. © Stanislaw Malc
Procedural Placement: Rather than hand-placing features, developers describe placement with rule. © Stanislaw Malc
Procedural Placement: Rather than hand-placing features, developers describe placement with rule. © Stanislaw Malc
[Redacted transcript] Utilizing Dovetail allowed us to quickly document & share insights from our tests to adjust.
[Redacted transcript] Utilizing Dovetail allowed us to quickly document & share insights from our tests to adjust.
[Redacted transcript] Utilizing Dovetail allowed us to quickly document & share insights from our tests to adjust.
Check it out here: https://core77designawards.awardsplatform.com/gallery/pNNRXYQJ
Check it out here: https://core77designawards.awardsplatform.com/gallery/pNNRXYQJ
Check it out here: https://core77designawards.awardsplatform.com/gallery/pNNRXYQJ
Managing memory efficiently democratized access to VR features.
Managing memory efficiently democratized access to VR features.
Managing memory efficiently democratized access to VR features.
Limited access to high-end technology on reservations required us to optimize performance to reduce memory load through:
Procedural placement provides a set of if–then rules on feature placements, reducing environmental storage requirements.
Frustum culling prevents objects from outside the camera’s view (blue cone) from rendering, reducing memory requirements.
Limited access to high-end technology on reservations required us to optimize performance to reduce memory load through:
Procedural placement provides a set of if–then rules on feature placements, reducing environmental storage requirements.
Frustum culling prevents objects from outside the camera’s view (blue cone) from rendering, reducing memory requirements.
Limited access to high-end technology on reservations required us to optimize performance to reduce memory load through:
Procedural placement provides a set of if–then rules on feature placements, reducing environmental storage requirements.
Frustum culling prevents objects from outside the camera’s view (blue cone) from rendering, reducing memory requirements.
We identified & solved accessibility issues through 7 task
completion tests.
We identified & solved accessibility issues through 7 task
completion tests.
We identified & solved accessibility issues through 7 task
completion tests.
We have submitted Sacred Roots to the 2025 Core77 Design Awards and won a student notable!
We have submitted Sacred Roots to the 2025 Core77 Design Awards and won a student notable!
We have submitted Sacred Roots to the 2025 Core77 Design Awards and won a student notable!
Testing allowed us to identify & refine:
Key visual accessibility improvements
Areas requiring clearer initial guidance & tutorials
Optic feedback cues needing greater clarity
Testing allowed us to identify & refine:
Key visual accessibility improvements
Areas requiring clearer initial guidance & tutorials
Optic feedback cues needing greater clarity
Native youth can find solace through shared identity among relatives, friends, & communities.
Native elders can find community & share their stories & culture with loved ones.
Reconnecting Natives can find safe places to learn about & connect with their heritage.
Native businesses & organizations can market themselves, grow, & empower their communities.
Native creators can share projects to build impactful networks.
Native communities can build a centralized hub & become stewards of their own data.
Native youth can find solace through shared identity among relatives, friends, & communities.
Native elders can find community & share their stories & culture with loved ones.
Reconnecting Natives can find safe places to learn about & connect with their heritage.
Native businesses & organizations can market themselves, grow, & empower their communities.
Native creators can share projects to build impactful networks.
Native communities can build a centralized hub & become stewards of their own data.
As a result, we designed Sacred Roots, an accessible social platform built to strengthen connections & gamify cultural knowledge-sharing within Native communities.
As a result, we designed Sacred Roots, an accessible social platform built to strengthen connections & gamify cultural knowledge-sharing within Native communities.
As a result, we designed Sacred Roots, an accessible social platform built to strengthen connections & gamify cultural knowledge-sharing within Native communities.
Accessibility settings, like screen readers & text size adjustments, can be customized instantly during onboarding to suit individual needs.
Accessibility settings, like screen readers & text size adjustments, can be customized instantly during onboarding to suit individual needs.
Accessibility settings, like screen readers & text size adjustments, can be customized instantly during onboarding to suit individual needs.
The Sacred Roots platform harnesses VR, LIDAR, & AI to bridge generation gaps. A shallow learning curve & real-time guidance make our platform easy to use, even for the less tech-savvy.
Gamified knowledge-sharing & tailored community recommendations help Natives stay rooted in the communities that mean the most – no matter the distance.
The Sacred Roots platform harnesses VR, LIDAR, & AI to bridge generation gaps. A shallow learning curve & real-time guidance make our platform easy to use, even for the less tech-savvy.
Gamified knowledge-sharing & tailored community recommendations help Natives stay rooted in the communities that mean the most – no matter the distance.
The Sacred Roots platform harnesses VR, LIDAR, & AI to bridge generation gaps. A shallow learning curve & real-time guidance make our platform easy to use, even for the less tech-savvy.
Gamified knowledge-sharing & tailored community recommendations help Natives stay rooted in the communities that mean the most – no matter the distance.
Native communities are disproportionately affected by accessibility challenges. To support personal needs, users can adjust their accessibility preferences anytime across all platforms.
Native communities are disproportionately affected by accessibility challenges. To support personal needs, users can adjust their accessibility preferences anytime across all platforms.
Native communities are disproportionately affected by accessibility challenges. To support personal needs, users can adjust their accessibility preferences anytime across all platforms.
An LLM chatbot provides immediate assistance to help users get unstuck.
An LLM chatbot provides immediate assistance to help users
get unstuck.
An LLM chatbot provides immediate assistance to help users get unstuck.
Inspired by celebrated American animals, a friendly & conversational chatbot helps elders navigate Sacred Root’s features.
The AI recognizes when users get confused or make errors, providing real-time guidance to mitigate confusion.
Inspired by celebrated American animals, a friendly & conversational chatbot helps elders navigate Sacred Root’s features.
The AI recognizes when users get confused or make errors, providing real-time guidance to mitigate confusion.
Inspired by celebrated American animals, a friendly & conversational chatbot helps elders navigate Sacred Root’s features.
The AI recognizes when users get confused or make errors, providing real-time guidance to mitigate confusion.
Storytelling tools gamify cultural knowledge exchange & encourage users to share
& learn.
An LLM chatbot provides immediate assistance to help users
get unstuck.
Storytelling tools gamify cultural knowledge exchange & encourage users to share & learn.
Native cultures emphasize audiovisual narratives to share cultural information. Our team surveyed seniors & youth to identify priority features for users to support their communities.
Based on the results, users can craft stories using simple AI & LiDAR tools, enhancing storytelling beyond traditional digital storybooks.
Native cultures emphasize audiovisual narratives to share cultural information. Our team surveyed seniors & youth to identify priority features for users to support their communities.
Based on the results, users can craft stories using simple AI & LiDAR tools, enhancing storytelling beyond traditional digital storybooks.
Native cultures emphasize audiovisual narratives to share cultural information. Our team surveyed seniors & youth to identify priority features for users to support their communities.
Based on the results, users can craft stories using simple AI & LiDAR tools, enhancing storytelling beyond traditional digital storybooks.
XR & VR communal spaces enable users to connect, play, & learn through immersive experiences.
XR & VR communal spaces enable users to connect, play, & learn through immersive experiences.
XR & VR communal spaces enable users to connect, play, & learn through immersive experiences.
With Sacred Roots…
…all Natives can stay connected – stay rooted – in the communities that give them identity.
VR reduces loneliness & strengthens connections, especially among isolated seniors. Users navigate Sacred Roots' VR system through simple gestures, without confusing controllers.
Reward systems & leaderboards encourage users to complete quests with friends, building cultural knowledge & problem-solving skills.
VR reduces loneliness & strengthens connections, especially among isolated seniors. Users navigate Sacred Roots' VR system through simple gestures, without confusing controllers.
Reward systems & leaderboards encourage users to complete quests with friends, building cultural knowledge & problem-solving skills.
VR reduces loneliness & strengthens connections, especially among isolated seniors. Users navigate Sacred Roots' VR system through simple gestures, without confusing controllers.
Reward systems & leaderboards encourage users to complete quests with friends, building cultural knowledge & problem-solving skills.
The Sacred Roots interface & Companion can be accessed at any point while playing in VR.
The Sacred Roots interface & Companion can be accessed at any point while playing
in VR.
The Sacred Roots interface & Companion can be accessed at any point while playing in VR.
Users can personalize their VR hubs to match their tribe, interests, & personal aesthetics.
Users can personalize their VR hubs to match their tribe, interests, & personal aesthetics.
Users can personalize their VR hubs to match their tribe, interests, & personal aesthetics.