Santiago Gea, M.Ed, MA
Instructional Designer & EdTech Specialist. Building scalable, inclusive, and adaptive digital learning environments.
Hello,
I view instructional design not just as a technical process, but as an act of empathy and advocacy. To me, good design must actively remove barriers to learning by deeply understanding the user’s needs, honoring the diverse ways people process the world, and balancing form with function. True innovation champions the human experience.
At Arizona State University’s Mathspine initiative, we applied this human-centered approach to reimagine the student journey. By leveraging adaptive tools, multimedia storytelling, and constant iteration based on student feedback, we transformed foundational math. The impact was undeniable: across historically difficult core courses like MAT 210 and 211, we increased student pass rates from ~53% to nearly 80% in just a few semesters.
I am looking for a mission-driven team that values empathy just as much as innovation. If you are building products that advocate for the learner, remain user-friendly, and make education a more equitable space, I would love to help you build them.
Santiago Gea
santiago@happydoom.co
My Values & Manifesto
I illuminate what is essential: the depths of human spirit that systems try to erase, the wonder we busy ourselves to outgrow, the stories that have been silenced, the aliveness we’ve learned to ignore. I am here to resist all forces that flatten, dehumanize, and make us forget our inherent belovedness and goodness.
Through my craft as storyteller and teacher, through what is real and what is imagined, I help people see what is invisible to the eye but visible to the heart. I help people reconnect with their humanity.
I honor what’s been ignored or forgotten. I invent worlds where different futures are possible. I teach others to see with gratitude and wonder. I co-create the possible futures we can build together: not the conformist nightmare, but worlds where imagination and meaning and beauty can be ever cultivated.
My Core Values
Integrity
Living authentically, acting with determined integrity, and delivering on the commitments I make to my team.
Purpose
Living intentionally and meaningfully, illuminating what is essential.
Creativity
Bringing beauty and new ideas into the world through art, design, and story.
Connection
Building empathetic, trusting relationships where psychological safety and honest feedback flow both ways.
Collaboration
Co-creating beauty with others in service of something meaningful.
Core Expertise
Instructional Design
Designing adaptive learning systems, curriculum development, and seamless LMS (Canvas) integration.
Emerging Tech (XR/AR)
Pioneering AR/VR applications for historical storytelling and cultural preservation using Niantic Lightship and Unity.
Inclusive & Accessible Design
IAAP Member (2023 – Present). Ensuring equitable educational experiences and WCAG compliance for diverse student populations.
Multimedia Production
Expertise in video production, UI/UX, and graphic design (Adobe CC, Blender, After Effects) to support narratives.
Community Collaboration
Partnering directly with communities and First Nations to elevate stories that call people to their deepest humanity.
Linguistics
Leveraging academic foundations in linguistics to support global language revitalization and ESL education.
Professional Experience
Learning Experience Designer
Arizona State University (LX Design)
- Spearheaded university-wide EdTech adoption strategies, interactive online tutorials, and UI/UX branding initiatives.
Earlier Professional Milestones
Instructional Design Specialist
2 Years ExperienceArchitected comprehensive Sustainability curriculum and produced high-quality educational motion graphics.
Curriculum Specialist & English Educator
6 Years ExperienceTaught English to non-native speakers and collaborated with the curriculum team to design instructional materials for global courses.
Digital Marketing Director
2 Years ExperienceDeveloped and executed data-driven marketing strategies, optimized campaign ROI, and cross-functional team collaboration.
Digital Media Specialist & Graphic Designer
4 Years ExperienceDeveloped visual branding, logos, and web graphics while evaluating digital asset performance and strategy.
Education & Professional Credentials
Academic Degrees
2023 – Present
MA, Narrative and Emerging Media
ASU Film & Journalism Joint Program
Immersive storytelling across AR, VR, and XR, virtual production, 360 video, and documentary work.
2020 – 2022
M.Ed, Learning Design & Technology
Arizona State University
Designing, developing, and evaluating instruction across contexts, including eLearning, accessible and inclusive design, and online and blended courses.
2010 – 2012
BA, Linguistics
University of Florida
The science of language: phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics, plus sociolinguistics, second-language acquisition, and teaching English as a second language.
Professional Certifications
- IAAP Member (2023 – Present)
- VR and 360 Video Production (Google)
- Intro to Augmented Reality & ARCore (Google)
- Accessibility & Inclusive Design (UIUC)
- TESOL Certification (ASU)
Currently in Development
At Risk of Being a Citizen
A VR experience telling the story of individuals who have been detained by ICE, designed to help people experience and empathize with their stories.
Trail of Death Mapping
An interactive mapping project built for the Potawatomi Trail of Death Association, plotting 70 landmarks across the Midwest to document the history of the Potawatomi forced removal.
Selected Works
The Signal and the Noise
Mediating conflict between Data and UX teams for a global streaming service.
Trail of Death Project
Developing AR experiences and resources for historical cultural preservation.
The XR Continuum
An interactive guide explaining the shift to spatial computing. Users explore the spectrum of Extended Reality (AR, MR, and VR) through a highly tactile interface.
Sankofa VR Reentry Experience
Served as Associate Director alongside Gina Belafonte to build a VR tool acquainting formerly incarcerated individuals with societal changes prior to reentry.
Alt-Text Micro-Course
A targeted micro-learning experience teaching effective alternative text for complex imagery.
Interactive Math Tutor
Guiding students step-by-step in solving complex math problems through a dynamic, interactive experience.
ASU LX Design Resources
A comprehensive resource hub designed with a team of IDs during the COVID-19 pandemic to support faculty at scale. As a senior member on the team, I oversaw project management, visual design, and even instructional design aspects.
Safe Parking Program
A short documentary-style piece highlighting a community Safe Parking Program.
Las calles de Habana / The Streets of Havana
A visual narrative capturing the streets and daily life of Havana, Cuba.
Play Test – Unreal Engine 5
A gameplay play-test demonstrating an environment built in Unreal Engine 5.
Daniel’s Rustic Artisan Collection
A product showcase video for a handcrafted rustic artisan collection.
Motion Graphic Sample – Intro & Outro for Workshops on Demand
Animated intro and outro motion graphics created for an on-demand workshop series.
Return to the Wild with Our Artisan Rustic Collection
A promotional motion piece for an artisan rustic product collection.
Motion Graphic Sample
A sample reel demonstrating motion graphics and animation work.
Sample of a Tutorial Video
An instructional tutorial video sample demonstrating clear step-by-step guidance.
IMPACT:30 Session II – Program Refinement
A recorded session focused on program refinement for the IMPACT:30 initiative.
Environment – Sample
An environment design sample showcasing 3D/spatial scene creation.
Skeleton Character – Rigging Test
A 3D character design and rigging test featuring a stylized skeletal figure, demonstrating modeling and rig setup.
Character Design – Figure Model
A 3D character model presented in a T-pose, ready for rigging and animation.
The Blue Crew – Poster
A bold poster design I created for the “Keep the Skies Blue” campaign, titled “The Blue Crew” with strong industrial typography.
Learner Journeys – Badge
A colorful diamond-shaped badge graphic created for the Learner Journeys program.
ASU Enterprise Technology – Brand Graphic
A branded graphic featuring the Arizona State University Enterprise Technology identity.
Introduction to Google Slides – Badge
A hexagonal achievement badge designed for an “Introduction to Google Slides” learning module.
Wordcraft Arcade – Title Graphic
A retro-style title graphic for “Wordcraft Arcade” with arcade-inspired typography.
Graphic Design Sample
A sample from a broader collection of graphic and visual design work.
LX Design Presents: Repurpose
A vibrant multicolor title graphic created for the “LX Design Presents Repurpose” initiative.
The Marvel Method
A comic-book-styled interactive guide that reframes the course design workflow as “Comics’ Greatest Workflow,” created as an EdPlus + LX Design crossover.
Canvas SpeedGrader Guide
A practical interactive guide to using Canvas SpeedGrader to grade faster and deliver more meaningful feedback to learners.