I’m a storyteller who found my voice in pixels and code.
My journey began in those quiet hours of middle school when I should have been doing homework but instead found myself sketching level designs on notebook margins and dreaming about the invisible architecture that made my favorite games feel alive. There was something electric about that first moment I realized someone, somewhere, had carefully crafted every door placement, every color choice, every moment of discovery I was experiencing on screen.
Growing up in Chicago taught me that the most powerful spaces honor both heritage and innovation, a philosophy that now guides everything I create. The city’s blend of classic architecture and bold modern design showed me that meaningful experiences don’t just serve a function but they tell a story about who we are and where we’re going.
What started as a kid obsessed with MMORPGs and forum communities evolved into something deeper during my time at Columbia College Chicago, where I earned my BA in Game Design and Web Development in 2015. But it wasn’t until my MA in Experience Design from DePaul University (2018) that I truly understood what I was chasing: the art of creating digital spaces where people don’t just complete tasks but where they connect with something larger than themselves.
That understanding drove me to found IDE Interactive, Inc. (originally TVLE Design LLC), where I’ve spent years discovering that the principles of game design, storytelling, and user psychology aren’t separate disciplines but rather they’re different lenses for examining the same fundamental question: How do we create experiences that feel invisible yet transformative?
Teaching as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago has become one of my greatest joys. There’s nothing quite like watching a student’s face light up when they realize that good design isn’t just about making things pretty but it’s about understanding the human on the other side of the screen and crafting something that speaks directly to their needs, fears, and aspirations.
In every project I take on, my approach remains rooted in genuine curiosity. I believe the best solutions emerge when you immerse yourself completely in both the business objectives and the human stories behind them.
All of this brought me full circle to that same hunger for learning and sharing that had me spending countless hours on forums as a teenager. I realized I wanted to recreate that sense of discovery and community, the same feeling I had when someone took the time to explain how to build a website or design a game level. Except this time, I wanted to be the one passing knowledge forward.
That’s what led me to start this blog. It’s my way of giving back to those online communities that shaped who I became, and creating a space where the next generation of designers and developers can find the resources and inspiration they need to tell their own stories through digital experiences. After all, the most meaningful part of any journey isn’t just reaching your destination but it’s helping others discover their own path along the way.