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— WELCOME —

Marina DiPonio

Player Experience Designer • User Researcher • Game Developer

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Project Categories

01

User Research

Usability testing, accessibility audits, and data-driven insights that uncover user pain points and drive meaningful design solutions.

02

Project Management

Leading cross-functional teams, coordinating timelines, and delivering projects that balance creative vision with strategic execution.

03

UI/UX Design

Crafting intuitive interfaces and engaging player experiences through thoughtful design, prototyping, and iterative refinement.

Resume

Education

BA Digital Arts & Sciences — University of Florida

August 2024 - May 2026 | Digital Worlds Institute | Summa Cum Laude

Concentration: Game Production and User Experience

President's List, Dean's List

Gator User Design Club, BADAS Mentorship Club (Mentee/Mentor), BADAS Society, Catholic Campus Ministry

AA — University of North Florida

January 2023 - May 2024 | GPA: 3.98/4.0

President's List, Dean's List

Hicks Honors College, Virtual Reality Club, Catholic Campus Ministry

Awards & Recognition

Outstanding Achievement in Experience Design

Convergence 2026 (25th Anniversary) — University of Florida

Awarded for "Learn to Leap," a mixed-methods UX research study examining player choice in tutorial design.

Best in Show — Tick Tock Trivia

University Showcase

Recognized for polish, innovation, and player experience design in a fast-paced party trivia game.

Most Innovative — Cosmic Catch

UF Create-A-Thon

Recognized for innovative rhythm-fishing game concept developed in a 12-hour game jam.

Yuumi-Chan: Rent is Due! — Launched on Steam

Magical Girl Beat 'Em Up

Served as Producer for a 25-person team, managing milestone delivery, playtest analysis, and team post-mortem documentation. View on Steam

Experience

Freelance Web Designer — Parasole Properties

April 2026-Present

Designed and built a responsive WordPress site optimized for a 55+ audience, applying user research principles for accessibility and intuitive navigation. Independently managed the project from contract negotiation through delivery, including brand development and client training.

UX Researcher — University of Florida

June 2025-October 2025

Directed usability testing to evaluate UF's club software platform. Audited accessibility to uncover user pain points and inclusivity gaps. Developed Figma-based prototypes to communicate research-backed solutions.

Leasing & Marketing Associate — Contemporary Management Concepts

March 2025-August 2025

Achieved top leasing performance in June 2025 by streamlining lead tracking and CRM engagement. Orchestrated social media campaigns, generating 6,332 views and over 60% follower interaction in one month. Collaborated with corporate marketing to ensure visual and messaging consistency across platforms.

Customer Experience Intern — ICE Mortgage Technology

June 2024-August 2024

Boosted survey response rates by 333% through personalized outreach and timing strategies. Audited digital platforms for WCAG 2.1 compliance, driving accessibility enhancements. Synthesized employee feedback into strategic UX recommendations and presentation materials.

Certifications

Design Thinking: Customer Experience — LinkedIn Learning

Customer Experience: Journey Mapping — LinkedIn Learning

Figma for UX Design — LinkedIn Learning

Skills

User Research: Mixed-Methods Research, Usability Testing, Thematic Analysis, IRB Protocol Authoring, Digital Accessibility, WCAG 2.1 Compliance

Design Tools: Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Unity, Prototyping

Web Development: WordPress, HTML/CSS, Responsive Design, Brand Identity Systems

Core Competencies: Visual Design, Strategic Thinking, Data-Driven Decision Making, Project Management

Soft Skills: Communication, Collaboration, Empathy, Leadership

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