Meet Our Team
We have a team of 6 developers under instruction of 1 well-regarded Carnegie Mellon Professor.
Yifan Chen
Programmer
Narrative Designer
Yifan is a programmer with a BS in Mathemtical Science from Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on applied mathematics and math modelling. In this project, she focuses on game development in Unreal Engine 5 and narrative design.
Azu De
Sound Designer, Programmer
VFX Artsit, Producer
Azu is a Game Designer and Technical Artist with a background in Computer Science and Interactive Media & Game Design. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). In Project Echoes, Azu serves as the Audio Designer and Producer, overseeing the game’s sound design and production pipeline to create an immersive musical experience.
Jialan Dong
Programmer
Designer
Jialan is a versatile game developer with a diverse skill set. While working as game designer and programmer, she also contributes to audio production in the project. She has an undergraduate background in computer science, experience in ML/AI and algorithms, and multiple awards from algorithm competitions. Additionally, she has served as the principal cellist and student manager in three student symphony orchestras, gaining extensive experience in music, team management, and large-scale performances.
Kimi Du
Lead Game Designer, Narrative Designer
Producer
Keying (Kimi) is a level Designer and technical designer specializing in level layout and flow, interactive storytelling, and rapid prototyping. She holds a background in Digital Arts and Sciences from the University of Florida. In the project, she is responsible for level, narrative, and quest design, technical implementation, along with project management, and production.
Harley Xu
3D Environment Artist
2D Artist
Harley is a 3D artist with experience in game development using Unity and Unreal Engine 5. He is proficient in various 3D modeling, animation, and graphic design tools, enabling him to independently create game assets from concept to completion, meeting team requirements with a solid artistic foundation. In this project, he was responsible for the entire game environment pipeline.
Xiaofan Zhang
Character Artist
2D & UI Artist
Xiaofan is a 3D Generalist with a BFA in 3D Animation from Pratt Institute, specializing in look development, lighting, and rendering. In Project Echoes, she focuses on character development, handling character design, modeling, rigging, and animation to bring the game’s characters to life.
Our Instructor
Brenda Bakker Harger
Brenda Bakker Harger is a theatre director (MFA Carnegie Mellon University), improviser, and professor of Entertainment technology at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center where she teaches improvisational acting and leads diverse interdisciplinary projects. As an improviser, Brenda has performed with Pittsburgh Theatresports and SAK Theatre, and has led improv workshops nationally and internationally from theatre improvisers to executive leadership training (Carnegie Bosch Insititute) to video game companies. Bakker Harger is also director of a unique award winning theatre company at Carnegie Mellon, which uses live interactive theatre to address controversial issues in the workplace and classroom. She has produced an exploratory DVD-ROM for interactive theatre, and is currently pursuing her interest in further exploring her theory and skills in directing and improvisation with technology, both in gaming and theatre. Recent projects include: making a demo/prototype of a game based on the film Night of the Living Dead (with George Romero); creating a toy/exhibit featuring virtual representations of The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum’s Puppet collection; and Interactive robots – creating a robot which had distinct character and was able to convey emotion and intention. In theatre, Harger has directed and developed plays as technologically based Interactive experiences, one which premiered at the Humana New play Festival at the Actor’s Theatre in Louisville, Virtual Meditation #1, and another, Full Spectrum, which premiered at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. In addition, Harger engages in ongoing research on using improvisational methods to create more believable virtual characters.