Interactive and Emerging Technologies
“Tattoo Map” – Interactive documentary by Grace G. Inspired by Welcome to Pine Point, the project incorporates HTML/CSS/JavaScript and explores audience-centered storytelling. Through guided design processes and iterative development, Grace advanced her technical and conceptual skills, producing a compelling interactive narrative prototype. Developed in Independent Study course under my mentorship
“DoN’t LoOk Up” – 3D animation project by Johnny B. An animated scene from Slaughterhouse 5 where Billy Pilgrim is taken aboard a Trafalmadorian spaceship. Created in Blender, the project demonstrates modeling, texturing, and animation techniques. Final project for 3D Modeling and Animation.
“City Generator” – Interactive simulation by Kenny C., Justin M., Vincent K., and Nathan L. Users create procedurally generated cities through mouse inputs, with buildings, colors, and roads dynamically generated within borders. Cities grow until colliding with others, halting expansion. Created in Creative Coding.
“Epic Cell Battles” – Interactive generative simulation by Aria A., Arman J., Gustavo M., Emery P., and Salil T. Inspired by Conway’s Game of Life, this project introduces new cell types with dynamic rules, enabling user interaction to influence population growth and decay. Features include mine-placing cells, life-seeding cells, and real-time board editing. Created in Creative Coding.
“Tamagotchi Subversion” – Interactive game by Elizabeth A., Dominic B., Justin H., Ryan H., and Autumn P. Inspired by Tamagotchi, this project critiques technology addiction by creating a virtual pet that becomes increasingly demanding. Players must manage the pet’s hunger, health, and happiness stats, which deplete over time. The pet and its environment visually and audibly distort as stats drop, highlighting the game’s grim tone. Designed in Creative Coding.
“AudioQuarium” – Interactive audio-visual experience by Ethan C., Christina L., Oliver M., Niko M., Tory S., and Kira W. Users explore a serene fishtank-inspired environment, mixing musical tracks linked to individual fish to create custom soundscapes. Final team project in Intro to Programming for the Arts.
“Choke-A-Cola” – Satirical web project by Alexis H., Seokho K., Edward O., Hanna N., Wes B., and Andres S. Designed to raise awareness of soda’s health risks and environmental impact, the site parodies a fictional soda company with flavors symbolizing industry harms. Final team project in Intro to Programming for the Arts.
Game Design and Development
“Sun Spear” – Action game by Aidan B., Jeff R., Vincent G., and Avery K. Players traverse a desert battling enemies and bosses while balancing spear-based combat and terrain-clearing mechanics. NPC dialogue delivers narrative elements. Project for Game Design Capstone Series.
“Fraw G. and the Moth” – Platformer by Ariel A., Philip C., Wang L., Catie M., Auguste R., Nick S., Sho L. S., and Yihan W. Players control Fraw G. in 2D/2.5D environments, navigating puzzles and challenges to reverse a curse by Mothman. Developed in Experimental Gameplay.
“DRACOMATON” – Roguelike by Andrew W., Annie Z., Autumn M., Ben P., Benjamin C., Calex R., Manas S., Manoj S., Michael R., Nik T., Sophie M., Tracie T., and Yiyang L. Players control Eclipse, a robot navigating a factory of corrupted bots and Dragon God relics. Features modular transformations and dynamic combat. Project for Game Design Capstone Series.
“Parcy’s Parcels” – Minigame collection by Anika M., Julie K., Justin B., Eden H., Aaron G., and Graham M. Players join Parcy the mail mouse in playful adventures like dodging sprinklers, outsmarting dogs, and delivering mail, while reflecting on life’s small joys. Project for Game Design Capstone Series.
“Ensol” – Narrative RPG by Autumn P., Elizabeth A., Emersen L., Gabriel R., Joseph S., Justin S., Matty H., Ryan H., and Sriharsha M. Set in a solarpunk world, players navigate a 3D isometric environment, battle enemies, upgrade weapons, and unravel mysteries with a robot cat companion. Project for Game Design Capstone Series.
Time-Based Art and Performance
“Clay Animation” – Stop-motion animation by Ahmee S., exploring narrative and movement through clay-based characters in outdoor settings. Challenges with clay material and camera stability added experimental qualities to the final piece. Created in Art 10F: 4D Foundations.
“The Orb” – Stop-motion video project by Sidney J. The film, created using abstract and narrative elements, follows a character’s journey to “the orb” and evokes an otherworldly experience through original sound design and effects. Final project for ART10F: 4D Foundations.
“Confessional” – Dialogic installation by Alexa M. Using a handcrafted puppet and a rustic booth, the project explores personal and interpersonal communication through play and nostalgia. Alexa developed skills in recycled-material construction and interactive performance, eliciting heartfelt responses during Open Studios. Created for 4D Foundations.
“Hua” – Embodied art piece by Jasmine Li. This interactive performance invited participants to share personal challenges, which Jasmine translated into meaningful Chinese idioms written in calligraphy. The piece focused on connection and audience engagement, emphasizing dialogue and personal encouragement over technical perfection. Created for 4D Foundations.
Sculpture and Material Exploration
“I Love Coyote and Coyote Loves Me” – Artwork by Nesho, an Irwin Scholar. The piece, illuminated by natural sunlight near a window, highlights a skull shape surrounded by cloth, exploring themes of perception and space. Nesho was my student in Concepts and Practice in Sculpture and Public Art at UCSC (2013).
“Back to the Core” – Sculpture by Jesse Huynh, crafted from cardboard toilet paper rolls. Jesse, a textile artist and fashion designer in Santa Cruz, challenges conventional fashion by using unconventional materials, reflecting his critique of societal norms. An Irwin Scholar, Jesse was my student in Concepts and Practice in Sculpture and Public Art at UCSC (2013).
