SEAN JOSEPH ANDREWS


Selected Works
NAALIYAH STUDIOS Shopify Web 
LIFE HACK Project
PHYSICAL COMPUTING Project
UI/UX Applications
UNDERLINE COOLING Project
PLANT HEALTH MONITOR Project
HYDE CLOSET Case Study 
UNITY Game Design  
MISC.


RESUME
ABOUT ME
COURSEWORK




©2024 Sean Andrews


GROU Coffee + CoWork 


Purpose:
For the Design Challenges 7/8 course final project(Spring 2024), our team partnered with a local coffee shop to address key challenges the business was facing. We aimed to analyze and solve these issues through creative, user-centered solutions that would enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, and community engagement.  

GROU Mission Statement:
“We aim to inspire our local community to grow, ground, and group.”



Problem Statement:
The primary issue was to identify deeper problems within the GROU coworking space community, specifically improving customer awareness of GROU’s services and enhancing employee communication. The broader goal was to revitalize community connection by addressing the growing sense of disconnect between the coworking space and the local community.


Testing and Research:

  • Primary Research: We conducted 15 interviews and observed interactions at GROU and its surrounding environment to gather insights on how people felt about community involvement and connection.
  • Surveys: Surveys were used to collect feedback from users, helping the team refine their ideas and tailor solutions to the actual needs of GROU members and the local community.
  • Secondary Research: Additional research supported the importance of recurring events and the positive impact of visual displays, ensuring the solutions were backed by evidence.


Inside of GROU’s Coffee Shop
Solutions:
  1. Repurpose Wall Space: Shift information from text-heavy displays to more engaging visual content to promote local business partnerships and increase interaction with the community. A digital local business screen can show users where their food is sourced from!
  2. Implement Recurring Events: Introduce accessible events such as coffee-centric gatherings, like a monthly Latte Art Workshop, to foster a welcoming atmosphere and build community traditions.
  3. Expand Window Usage: Use the windows of GROU to serve both people and pets, as well as to promote events. This idea is supported by research showing that the presence of dogs can increase the number and quality of conversations among people, thus enhancing community connection.

Outcomes:
The proposed solutions were aimed at fostering a community that cares by creating a more welcoming and engaging environment. This would increase awareness, deepen connections, and create a space where shared interests could thrive, benefiting both GROU members and local businesses.

This assignment provided hands-on experience in identifying community-based problems, developing solutions grounded in research, and testing ideas through interviews and surveys. It prepared the team for future projects focused on solving real-world community and business challenges. For over a month, our team collaborated closely with the owners of GROU, meeting regularly to ask in-depth questions and thoroughly investigate the complex, hard-to-detect issues impacting the community’s connection with the business, ensuring our solutions were deeply informed by their insights and challenges.

Pitch Deck
GROU Website

Library Redesign Project



Purpose:
For the Design Challenges 7/8 course midterm (Spring 2024), our team focused on updating the outdated study rooms at the Richter Library at the University of Miami to align with rapidly advancing technology and provide a better user experience.

Problem:
The primary issue was that the study rooms at the Richter Library were outdated and no longer met the technological needs of modern students. Our challenge was to revamp these spaces to better fit the technological advancements of the 21st century, all within a large budget.
UMiami Richter Library


Survey Testing:
A survey was conducted with 57 participants, including students and faculty, to gather insights on how often the study rooms were used, what they were used for, and what features users liked and disliked. Key findings indicated that users primarily used the rooms for group work (42%) and studying (44%), and that they wanted more features like comfortable chairs, soundproofing, and adjustable lighting. On average, participants rated the ease of booking rooms at 6/10 and their satisfaction with room design at 5/10, showing room for significant improvement.

Secondary Research:
We also researched libraries from other institutions to draw inspiration and understand best practices for study room designs. The Seattle Central Library stood out for its innovative use of technology and modern architecture that creates private, well-lit study spaces. The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago uses robotic book retrieval systems and natural lighting to optimize both aesthetics and functionality. Olin Library at Washington University integrates curved bookcase nooks and architectural elements to create more intimate, private study spaces.


Solutions:
  1. Redesigned study rooms with advanced technology such as adjustable lighting, soundproofing, and smart furniture to create a more comfortable and functional study environment.
  2. Integrating nature-inspired elements like natural lighting and plants to enhance focus and productivity.
  3. Expanding the use of windows to create a more interactive and visually appealing environment for both students and visitors.

AI Generated Concept Art for Study Rooms

Pitch Deck


Mangrove City Testing


Purpose:
   For the Design Challenges 7/8 course (Spring 2024), our group was tasked with conducting user testing for the Mangrove City Projet. Mangrove City is a VR experience designed for middle school students to explore the crucial role of mangrove forests in protecting coastal communities and mitigating climate change. The goal was to ensure that the VR experience was intuitive, engaging, and free from bugs, while also gauging whether it effectively communicated the intended educational content.

The Testing:
    Testing involved moderated usability testing, where user interactions, body language, and reactions were closely monitored within the VR environment. Twenty-minute one-on-one tests were conducted, followed by a post-test survey. These tests helped gather direct insights into user satisfaction, learning outcomes, and the intuitiveness of the VR gameplay. The process also included observational feedback, where testers were asked to comment on various aspects of their experience during and after the session.

AI Generated Mangrove Forest

Mangrove City XR Lab Poster






Mangrove City Testing Presentation


Feedback / Limitations:
    Feedback focused on several areas, including the need for improvements in visual quality, adding more interactive elements, and resolving issues like the laggy aquaponic farm building and the lack of closed captions. Limitations of the feedback included subjectivity from testers, a small testing group of university students rather than the target audience of middle schoolers, and constraints in resources and time. The testing process also highlighted that some aspects of the educational content were overwhelming, and the balance between engagement and learning needed refinement.

Significance:
    This assignment provided hands-on experience testing VR technology and applying usability methods. The XR lab integrated our feedback—such as improving paddleboard controls, adding captions, and enhancing interactivity—into the software, making it more user-friendly and educational. This collaboration refined the tool's technical and content aspects, preparing us to effectively implement user feedback in future projects, ensuring we design products that are both functional and user-centered, skills essential for our future careers in technology and design.

Oura Ring Case Study

Purpose:
This case study explores the development and scaling strategies of the Oura Ring, a health tech wearable focused on sleep tracking and wellness. My minor in Exercise Physiology inspired me to examine the intersection of technology and health, deepening my understanding of starting and growing a health tech business. Through systems analysis, I highlighted the integration of user-centric design, data security, and innovative partnerships in Oura's success.



Fright Fusion


Purpose:
The goal of Fright Fusion was to create an immersive and terrifying virtual reality (VR) haunted house experience that pushes the boundaries of fear beyond what traditional haunted houses, horror movies, or games can achieve. The project aimed to fully utilize VR technology using the Engage Platform, offering users an exhilarating and immersive environment designed to trigger intense fear and suspense. We conducted a market and competitor analysis to bring this concept to the real world. 

Problem:
Despite the growing popularity of VR and horror genres, there remains a lack of VR games that balance high-quality horror experiences with engaging, multiplayer interaction. Many horror fans, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are underserved by existing VR games, which often lean too heavily on hyper-realism or lack narrative depth and cooperative play.


Solution:

  • Moderated Realism: Avoiding overly graphic content while still providing an intense horror experience.
  • Social Interaction: Cooperative gameplay where users can navigate environments and face fears together.
  • Dynamic Storytelling: Engaging narratives that challenge players through puzzles, terrifying scenarios, and evolving environments like a haunted theater, drive-in, and desert, created using Engage’s content editor and IFX objects.
Fright Fusion Trailer Snipit
Development and Testing:
To bring Fright Fusion to life, we utilized Engage’s platform, mastering its complex tools and timeline features to develop three distinct levels. Testing involved refining gameplay mechanics and creating an MVP, which allowed us to understand user behavior in a virtual horror setting. Surveys and user feedback helped further optimize the game’s immersive experience.

Significance:
This project was crucial in demonstrating the team’s ability to adapt to challenging platforms like Engage. Despite its complexity, we successfully created a minimum viable product, showcasing our flexibility and proficiency in VR game development. This experience highlights our technical skills, creativity, and ability to deliver immersive, interactive environments even when using difficult-to-navigate platforms
Pitch Deck
Project Proposal

Rhino 8 Modeling



Rendered skull-shaped cookie cutter model
Shaded model
3D printed cookie cutter




Projects as the CFO


HOBBYBEAST
Adventure. Prosper. Connect.

    HobbyBeast is a unique social media platform designed to address the growing sense of social isolation by facilitating real-world interactions through shared hobbies. Its mission is to bring together individuals with similar interests, promoting not only online engagement but also physical meetups and community building.

    As the CFO of HobbyBeast, I was responsible for developing and managing the financial strategies that ensured the platform's sustainability and growth. I oversaw the financial planning and risk management while also engaging in key decisions regarding the company’s financial investments and capital structure.


AI Generated Concept Art







    HarmonyAI is a therapy application designed to make mental health care more accessible, affordable, and stigma-free. The platform provides 24/7 personalized therapy services that are easily accessible, ensuring privacy and customization to meet individual mental health needs effectively.

    As the CFO of HarmonyAI, my role involved strategically managing the company's finances to support its ambitious goals. I led the financial planning, controlled expenditures, and ensured the economic feasibility of our services to sustain long-term growth and accessibility in mental health solutions.




Multimodal Projects

For my multimodal project (First Year Writing, Fall 2022), I transformed an essay on discourse communities into a dynamic and interactive webpage using Adobe. The focus of the essay was on the Avatar: The Last Airbender fandom as a discourse community, examining how its members engage in meaningful conversations, share content, and express their passion. By turning the written piece into an Adobe webpage, I incorporated engaging visuals, interactive elements, and appealing design features to enhance the storytelling and make the content more accessible and visually captivating for the audience. This project showcases my ability to effectively blend written analysis with digital media to create an immersive learning experience.

Interactive Adobe Webpage
Full Paper




Interactive Adobe Webpage

For my First Year Writing: STEM course (Spring 2023), I wrote an essay and created a webpage that analyzed five scientific articles, each exploring aspects of sustainability and technology. The project addressed critical topics related to climate change, including advancements in solar panels, the role of machine learning, innovations in urban landscape design, and more. By examining these interconnected themes, the essay highlighted the role of emerging technologies in tackling environmental challenges.