Immersive Experience Design
Spatial narratives, player journeys, interactive environments, wayfinding and live experiences that invite participation.
StorytellingSpatial UXGame Flow
HELLO! I'M GALINA — SHE / HER
ABOUT
ABOUT
ME!
I'm an interaction designer and creative technologist who turns curious ideas into playful physical and digital experiences.
PASADENA, CA
Curious by nature.
Playful by design.
I'm Galina (Jialin) Zhu, originally from Canton, China and currently based in Pasadena, California. I've always been fascinated by how toys, mechanics and robotics work.
Today, I combine interaction design, technology and storytelling to build worlds people can touch, explore and shape for themselves. My work moves easily between screens, spaces, objects and live experiences.
I'm happiest when a project needs both imagination and hands-on making — from mapping a user journey to prototyping a controller, testing an interaction or building the visual language around it.
02 / WHAT I CAN DOFrom idea
From idea
to experience.
I work across disciplines, choosing the right mix of research, storytelling, design and prototyping for each project.
Physical Computing
Tactile prototypes, alternative controllers, responsive props and lighting systems that connect bodies to digital worlds.
ControllersPrototypingDMX Lighting
AR / VR Design
Immersive interaction systems, spatial feedback and user flows designed for comfortable, intuitive exploration.
UnityXR InteractionSpatial Design
UI / UX & Web
Research, information architecture, interface design and responsive websites for products, platforms and Shopify brands.
User FlowsPrototypesWeb Design
Brand & Visual Systems
Identity systems, typography, color, campaigns and environmental graphics that give an idea a memorable voice.
BrandingArt DirectionVisual Systems
Product & Wearable Design
Form, material and user-centered prototyping for playful objects, installations and wearable interactions.
MaterialsForm StudiesUser Testing
My design superpowers
Bridging physical + digital
I think beyond the screen, connecting bodies, objects, spaces and interfaces into one coherent experience.
Making technology feel human
I translate complex systems into playful interactions that feel approachable, emotional and easy to understand.
Learning through making
I prototype early, observe carefully and iterate with collaborators until the experience feels right in real life.
USER RESEARCHEXPERIENCE MAPPINGRAPID PROTOTYPINGUNITY / XRHTML / CSS / JSPHYSICAL PROTOTYPINGVISUAL STORYTELLINGCOLLABORATIVE MAKING
04 / EXPERIENCEWork
Work
experience.
Selected roles across creative technology, interaction design, UI/UX, teaching and interdisciplinary prototyping.
2026—NOW
Creative Technologist
Broadar · Full-time
Designing and delivering digital, brand and web projects for international clients across Framer, Shopify and custom front-end experiences.
2025—NOW
Creative Technologist
Warped Worlds · Contract
Creating immersive experiences, games and alternative-controller installations through interaction design, prototyping and physical computing.
2025
UIUX Designer
XTENDED iDENTiTY · Contract
Managed multidisciplinary UI/UX and product projects from early concepts through prototyping, testing and delivery.
2024
Interaction Designer
Warped Worlds · Internship
Worked on an interactive entertainment theme-room experience in Pasadena.
2023—24
Laboratory Assistant
W. M. Keck Laboratories · Part-time
Supported research and prototyping that integrated biomaterials into high-performance wearable concepts.
2023
Student Teacher
ArtCenter College of Design · Part-time
Guided a 14-week learning experience focused on observation, curiosity and creative interpretation.
2023
Associate Creative Director
College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University · Internship
Developed interactive robotic-arm prototypes and movement visualizations for the Tongji D&I robotics lab.
2022
Teaching Assistant
ArtCenter College of Design · Part-time
Teaching assistant for Computer Science for Designers and Artists.
2019
Character Designer
Guangzhou Baitian Information Technology Ltd · Internship
Created character design concepts and supporting visual development.