Phonic Bloom

Teams

The Phonic Bloom mobile app was built and promoted by the Fall 2024 graduates from Washington State University Vancouver’s Department of Digital Technology and Culture. Collaborating in four teams, they conceptualized, prototyped, built, and delivered the app, this website, and social media promotions of the project as part of their capstone requirement.

Project Manager

Portrait of Mailei Brodniak, Project Manager for Phonic Bloom

Mailei Brodniak

Mailei excelled as the Project Manager for the Phonic Bloom project, demonstrating exceptional skill in presenting the project and managing its many facets. She also played a key role on the Social Media Team, overseeing client communications, creative development, and quality control with remarkable professionalism and creativity.
Check out her portfolio

Experience Team

Portrait of James Lesperance, Experience Team Lead for Phonic Bloom AR app

James Lesperance

James is the Experience Team Lead and the driving force behind the creation of its engaging AR app. His tireless efforts brought to life an application designed to both entertain and educate children about the phonetic sounds found in languages worldwide.
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Portrait of Andrew Higgins, Co-Lead of the Experience Team for Phonic Bloom, with expertise in app development and 3D modeling

Andrew Higgins

Andrew serves as the co-lead for the Experience Team, contributing to team management and app development. His diverse skills also supported video production, 3D modeling, and the creation of physical components like the app's physical marker.
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Portrait of Courtney Minden, 3D modeler and animator for the Phonic Bloom mascot and interactive app experience

Courtney Minden

Courtney is a talented 3D modeler who brought the Phonic Bloom mascot to life by transforming a 2D design into a vibrant 3D character. She also animated the mascot and other creatures, adding dynamic movement and personality to the app's interactive experience.
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Portrait of Caleb Stenberg, a versatile member of the Phonic Bloom Experience Team contributing to app development, design, and sound editing

Caleb Stenberg

Caleb is a versatile member of the Experience Team, contributing to app development, design, and the sound team. His efforts included recording, editing, and ensuring quality control, showcasing his adaptability and dedication across multiple facets of the project.
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Portrait of Andrew Truax, 3D modeler and animator for Phonic Bloom, creating visuals for the AR app and bridging physical and digital design

Andrew Truax

Andrew is an exceptional 3D modeler and animator whose intricate and detailed replicas of the physical Phonic Bloom sculpture formed the backbone of the visuals for the AR app. His dedication and craftsmanship were instrumental in bringing the Experience Team's vision to life, creating a seamless connection between the physical and digital elements of the project.
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Social Media Team

Portrait of Zoee Lodge, Social Media Team Lead for Phonic Bloom, specializing in content management and performance analysis

Zoee Lodge

Zoee serves as the outstanding Social Media Team Lead for the Phonic Bloom project, showcasing precision and diligence in her role. She expertly managed content schedules, analyzed post performance, and leveraged trending topics to maximize the project's visibility across platforms.
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Portrait of Andrei Juego, Social Media Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in content creation, video recording, and post distribution

Andrei Juego

Andrei Juego’s exceptional charisma shone through in his work as a Social Media Team member, where it translated seamlessly into his content creation. From sound production to video recording and post distribution, his dynamic approach brought energy and engagement to every aspect of the team's efforts.
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Portrait of Ryan Toedtli, Social Media Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in photography, editing, and TikTok management

Ryan Toedtli

Ryan, a member of the Social Media Team, brought a keen eye for photography and expert editing skills to capture key moments throughout the project's lifecycle. His work as a cameraman and TikTok manager played a pivotal role in enhancing the project's visibility and engagement across platforms.
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Web Development Team

Portrait of Aaron Shannon, Web Development Team Lead for Phonic Bloom, specializing in website design and full stack development

Aaron Shannon

Aaron Shannon serves as the Web Development Team Lead for the Phonic Bloom project, guiding the brainstorming, wire-framing, and design process while overseeing the creation of the website. His innovative work included programming a dynamic SVG with interactive modals, providing an engaging platform to educate visitors about the sculpture.
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Portrait of Cameron Dan, Web Development Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in Bootstrap design and audio editing

Cameron Dan

Cameron is an integral member of the Web Development Team, using his expertise in Bootstrap to simplify and enhance the site's visuals and content. He also contributed to the Sound Team, lending his skills to recording and audio editing, making his versatile talents invaluable to the project's success.
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Portrait of Austin Melo, Web Development Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in website styling and app development

Austin Melo

Austin is one of the hardest-working members of the Web Development Team, dedicating himself to creating boilerplate, making edits and fixes, and perfecting the site's styling. Simultaneously, he supported the Experience Team with app development, showcasing his unwavering commitment and versatility.
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Portrait of Jenn Nguyen, Web Development Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in UI/UX design, prototyping, and content creation

Jenn Nguyen

Jenn is a driving force on the Web Development Team, bringing a wealth of talent to the website’s development. From UI/UX design, prototyping, and styling to shaping the information flow and crafting content, she played a crucial role in telling the story of the project and its sculpture to visitors.
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Design Team

Portrait of Cuong Nguyen, Design Team Lead for Phonic Bloom, known for creativity and delivering impactful visual designs

Cuong Nguyen

Cuong, the Design Team Lead for the Phonic Bloom project, brought an exceptional eye for design and boundless creativity to every aspect of his work. A tenacious worker, he ensured the demands of other teams were met while delivering visually stunning and impactful results.
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Portrait of Bea Calces, Design Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in iconography, mascot design, and voice acting

Bea Calces

Bea, a phenomenal artist and designer on the Design Team, played a key role in creating iconography for the website and conceptualizing the project's mascot. She brought her creation to life not only visually but also as its voice in the app, showcasing her incredible versatility and dedication.
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Portrait of Rich Te, Sound Team Lead for Phonic Bloom, specializing in audio recording and Illustrator file editing

Rich Te

Rich is a driving force on project, leading the Sound Team while making significant contributions to the Design Team. His expertise was instrumental in recording audio samples for phonetic sounds, and his design talents shone through in his meticulous editing of Illustrator files.
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Portrait of Trystahn Turner, Design Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in logo design, iconography, and animation

Trystahn Turner

Trystahn's dedication to the Design Team resulted in the creation of multiple logo designs, iconography, animations, and more. His tenacity in ensuring deliverables were ready for other teams made him an invaluable contributor to the project's success.
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Portrait of Evan Leyden, Design Team member for Phonic Bloom, specializing in Adobe Creative Suite and animated MRI visuals

Evan Leyden

Evan is the linchpin of the Design Team, bringing unparalleled expertise in Adobe Creative Suite to the project. Their skills were instrumental in creating phenomenally animated MRI visuals that showcase how to perform various phonetic sounds.
Check out their portfolio

Faculty and Advisors

Dene Grigar

Dene Grigar, the professor for the Senior Seminar, is a creative, meticulous, and tenacious mentor who has profoundly shaped her students' journeys. Through her unwavering dedication, she has inspired us to learn, strive for excellence, and grow into the professional versions of ourselves.

Holly Slocum

Holly Slocum, a mentor for the Senior Seminar class, brought a wealth of expertise in design, user experience, and code functionality. Beyond ensuring that the work was readable, functional, and effective, she served as the emotional support backbone of the project, guiding and uplifting the team throughout.

Greg Philbrook

Greg Philbrook, a mentor for the Senior Seminar project, provided invaluable expertise in technology systems, code readability, and comprehension. His uncanny ability to quickly grasp new information and translate it into guidance for students was an essential asset to the project's success.

Andrew Thompson

Andrew Thompson, a mentor for the Senior Seminar, brought exceptional expertise in tech stacks, particularly Unity, which was crucial to the Experience Team's development of the program's application. His tenacity and perseverance guided students in creating a high-quality and impactful experience.