João de Mendonça Salim
Interactive Designer · Creative Technologist · AI Researcher
Clermont, FL · github.com/jmsalim · linkedin.com/in/joaosalim
Creative technologist and human-centered design practitioner with expertise in interactive experience design, narrative systems, and applied artificial intelligence. M.A. Digital Media candidate at UCF with peer-reviewed publications in games research and AI ethics.
Experience shipping products across platforms, including a multilingual exam prep web app, a mobile app live on the App Store, and physical interactive installations. Fluent in Portuguese and English; international background informs a global perspective on inclusive design.
Technical Skills
💻 Programming & Frameworks
🤖 AI & Machine Learning
🎨 Design & Prototyping
🎮 3D & Creative Tools
📊 Product & Marketing
Education
2021
Associate of Arts | General Studies (Honors)
Valencia College, Seneff Honors Program
2024
Bachelor of Arts | Digital Media
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Honors Undergraduate Thesis · Adam T. Lee Endowed Scholarship
Expected May 2027
Master of Arts | Digital Media
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Dean's Fellowship Recipient · GPA: 4.0 · Thesis: AI, cognitive ethics, and academic identity
Experience
Graduate Teaching Associate, Instructor of Record
University of Central Florida, Nicholson School
Aug 2026 – Present
Orlando, FL
- Teach DIG 3480 Computer as a Medium, a mixed-mode Unity and C# course for 41 students
- Teach DIG 3175 Design for Accessibility and Engagement, a fully online course for 80 students
UI Developer Intern
University of Florida College of Medicine, Office of Research
May 2026 – Present
Remote
- Build reusable React and TypeScript components for a shared shadcn/ui component library
- Develop analytics dashboard views with Recharts and Tailwind CSS through pull-request code review
Research Assistant (Volunteer), AI, Games and Digital Culture
University of Central Florida, advised by Dr. Sercan Sengun
2024 – Present
Orlando, FL
- Lead developer on DIRT (Disaster Image Recognition and Triage), a multi-model deep learning pipeline for disaster response using YOLOv8 and EfficientNet-B4
- Co-authored peer-reviewed work published in ACM Games: Research and Practice and the iLRN 2026 proceedings
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Central Florida, Nicholson School
Aug 2025 – Jul 2026
Orlando, FL
- Facilitate project-based learning for undergraduate digital media courses, mentoring students in interactive design, storytelling, and digital production
- Partner with faculty to develop instructional content aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy and Gagné's 9 Events framework
- Support maker space education initiatives to reduce barriers to emerging technology access
3D Printing Specialist and Farm Manager / UI/UX Designer / Frontend Developer
Newt Mobility
Jun 2023 – May 2025
Orlando, FL · 2 years
- Developed UI/UX concepts for mobile and web platforms; created interactive Figma prototypes and managed production timelines across cross-functional teams
- Built and deployed cross-browser web applications using Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS; contributed to full product lifecycle from conception through deployment
- Coordinated end-to-end 3D printing production pipeline (slicing, file preparation, and print optimization) across a lab of 10+ filament and 3 resin-based printers
- Designed marketing materials including logos, flyers, social media graphics, and web content using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Maker Space Lab Assistant and Coordinator / Workshop Instructor
University of Central Florida
Aug 2025 – May 2026
Orlando, FL
- Designed and delivered community-facing workshops on fabrication technologies including Resin Printing Basics 101 and Painting Resin Printed Models 101
- Increased hands-on technology access for underrepresented learners through accessible curriculum design
Publications & Presentations
Community Contextualization of Mobile Game Ads Through YouTube Essays
Games: Research and Practice, ACM (2026)
Cataloging the World Exhibition: A Living Survey of Physical World Representations in Videogames
iLRN 2026, Athens, Greece (Extended Abstract)
A Graduate Student Perspective on AI Augmentation, Ethics, and the Emergence of the Academic Cyborg
Frontiers in Computer Science
FADE: A Game About Grief
Meaningful Play 2026, Pittsburgh (Games and Prototypes Exhibition)
S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S.: The Algorithmic Oracle
ICFA 2026, International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, Orlando
Exploring the Diffusion Potential of a Collaborative Mobile Platform for Disaster Management and Relief
UCF STARS Repository, Undergraduate Thesis (2024)