Aidan Aumell
I am a digital designer passionate about leveraging interactive technology to drive innovation in education and business. My academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Technology and Culture, as well as a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Washington State University – Go Cougs!
My past work revolves around User Interface/Experience Design, Extended Reality (XR) learning spaces, and digital accessibility. For a glimpse of my past projects, feel free to explore the examples available on this page.
I recently graduated from Washington State University with a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction. My educational background also includes a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Technology and Culture, which I received in 2020. My love for digital technology and design has been a driving force in both my academic and professional pursuits.
Throughout my graduate degree at Washington State University, I had the opportunity to work as a graduate research assistant in the VR2GO Lab with Dr. Don McMahon. In this role, I managed the lab and assisted with research projects focused on the use of technology to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was through this experience that I discovered the power that technology has to positively impact people’s lives, especially those with disabilities.
My recent master’s thesis research examined undergraduate students’ perceptions of a hybrid field trip to learn ecology in a Natural Resource Ecology course in the School of the Environment. My thesis explored the application of Kamiak Butte VR, which I built collaboratively with peers from the university, to supplement and replace the physical field trip in the time of distance and hybrid learning. Through this research, I gained valuable insights into the intersection of digital technology, design, and accessibility.
As a recent graduate, I am currently seeking employment in user interface or experience design, instructional design, content design, educational technology, or using technology to support business and education. I am passionate about leveraging technology to make people’s lives and ideas better, and I am excited to pursue a career that allows me to do just that.
When I am not working on my professional pursuits, I love spending time outdoors. I am an avid runner, hiker, kayaker, and skier. I also enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes in my spare time.
Education
| Washington State University | Pullman, WA |
- Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
- Bachelor of Arts in Digital Technology and Culture
| 2016 – 2022 |
Experience
| Graduate Research Assistant | Washington State University |
| January 2020 – December 2022 |
- Designed and managed a knowledge mobilization website that provides a curated database of evidence-based resources, professional development opportunities, and online courses to teachers in Washington State.
- Managed the VR2GO Lab in the College of Education which researches the use of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Assistive Technology to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Assisted in the development and testing of assistive technology tools to support students with disabilities.
| Marketing & 3D Modeling Intern | Simply Augmented |
| May 2020 – October 2020 |
- Created marketing materials such as social media content, videos, and email marketing to showcase Simply Augmented services and capabilities in a variety of industries.
- Collaborated with team members to support the development of 3D models and textures for Augmented Reality experiences.
- Assisted with testing and debugging Augmented Reality experiences to ensure they worked as intended.
| Virtual Reality Lab Research Intern | Washington State University |
| January 2020 – March 2020 |
- Assisted a research project at the Murrow College of Communication to examine the role of communication and motivation in virtual environments.
- Guided research participants through Virtual Reality experiments and provided instruction on how to interact with VR headsets, controllers, and virtual reality environments.
- Collected quantitative data collection from user interactions in Virtual Reality experiences and developed an initial understanding of research protocols and methodologies.
| Freelance Website Designer | Seattle, WA |
| 2019 – 2023 |
- Provided custom website design solutions to various small businesses in the Seattle area. My clients included Seattle Pops, The National Center for Clinical Practice in Educator Preparation, etc.
- Collaborated with clients to determine their needs and requirements for their websites.
- Ensured that the websites were user-friendly, responsive, and accessible among assistive technologies to provide a positive user experience across devices.
Projects
| Project Lead, VR/AR development | Kamiak Butte VR |
| August 2020 – December 2022 |
- Co-founded Kamiak Butte VR to provide undergraduate students enrolled in a Natural Resource Ecology course with a virtual reality field trip to Kamiak Butte County Park during and after the time of distance learning.
- Won two grants and raised $44,000 dollars to further advance the development of the Kamiak Butte VR project.
- Engaged in an iterative design process to develop the Kamiak Butte VR software application over the course of two years, duties included content generation, prototyping, implementation, research, and feedback. Utilized various software such as Adobe Creative Suit, Figma, Maya, Unity, and 3DVista to build to Kamiak Butte VR program.
| Master’s Thesis | Undergraduate Students Perceptions of a Hybrid Field Trip in Natural Resource Ecology |
| January 2022 – December 2022 |
- Conducted research in an online undergraduate course at Washington State University in the School of the Environment to examine students’ perceptions of a hybrid field trip to Kamiak Butte County Park
- Over the course of two semesters of instruction, I used surveys to collected both qualitative and quantitative data on students’ perceptions with the Kamiak Butte VR software program and the physical field trip.
- Students expressed positive attitudes towards the hybrid field trip and valued hybrid field trip as the model provided students with multiple means to access, perceive, comprehend information from the field site.
Awards
| Distinguished Scholar | Washington State University |
| 2021 |
- The Digital Technology and Culture Program recognize me with an award for my Kamiak Butte VR project. The award is given to a student who demonstrates continued excellence and comprehensive technical, artistic, and critical work during their junior or senior year.
| Excellence in Interactive Technology & Development | Washington State University |
| 2020 |
- The Digital Technology and Culture Program awarded me with an award for my Seattle Pops website redesign project. The award is given to a student who explores the principles of web design, coding, information architecture, and usability in a global cultural context.
Publications
| Peer Reviewed |
| 2021 – 2022 |
- Schlosser, W., Aumell, A., Kilkenny, M. (In Press). Integrating an immersive virtual ecology platform with an in-person field trip: a hybrid approach. Journal of Natural Sciences Education. https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20094
- McMahon, D., & McMahon, A. K., Abrams, K., Anglin, M., Wilds, K., & Aumell, A. (2022). Digital wellness and fitness tools for students with disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology. https://doi.org/10.1177/01626434221094795
Volunteer Experience
| Volunteer | Whitman County Historical Society |
| 2022 |
- Created 360° tours of Whitman County historical society sites to allow people to virtually visit the sites.
