In response to the inability to access traditional children’s programming during Covid shut-downs as well as in acknowledgement of an ongoing need for safe programming alternatives, this Capstone project set out to design an outdoor, passive programming experience for 4–7-year-olds and their caregivers. Informed by research, inspired by existing projects and interviews with programming professionals, and shaped by Covid-related constraints, the result is an intentionally designed interactive walk that offers a framework for a fun and accessible outdoor activity, which can be adapted for a wide-range of community needs.

The City of Seattle seeks to answer the question: “How might we understand the economic fallout of COVID-19 from a data perspective and identify where interventions could be most effective?” Our team experimented with locational and demographic data to gain a comprehensive view of the economic impacts residents face due to COVID-19. These deliverables include block-specific maps and predictive regression models to see which areas and groups are most economically vulnerable to COVID-19. The resulting deliverables assist City Departments in making data-informed decisions to help shape City policies and programs and inform the larger city ecosystem of community-based organizations.

Misinformation is an escalating threat to modern society. Seemingly unlimited access to an ever-increasing volume of information allows for false or inaccurate content to spread easily. We look to ensure that everyone has the intellectual and social tools to be resilient and contributing members of our information society. "Are You Nuts?" is a free online collaborative game designed to empower players to combat misinformation in a remarkably fun, amusing, and innovative manner. Our game teaches players to engage in healthy information consumption and sharing habits, helps raise awareness of information vulnerabilities, and builds compassionate concern for others.

For beginner fashion creatives hoping to break through in the fashion industry, finding an inclusive community to work, learn, and grow from can be daunting. We designed Artistree, a mobile application, to connect fashion creatives to those nearby them where they can receive support, collaborate on projects together, attend workshops, and share their creations. Artistree leverages technology to build a welcoming community that helps people develop their skills and demonstrates that mistakes are a part of fashion artistry.

Aware is a web application that helps Facebook users retrieve their personal data, understand their Facebook activity, and adjust their privacy settings. Our team was inspired to create Aware because we noticed that young adults do not understand their Facebook data and how to protect it, despite their deep concern for information privacy. Aware solves this problem by helping Facebook users make sense of various personal data, including ads, groups, politics, and interests information, and helping them manage their privacy settings. Our hope is that through Aware, users experience a greater sense of safety and control over their Facebook experience.

BARK! is a platform that provides digital companionship with a virtual support animal. While traditional emotional support animals are a great resource for those who are struggling with their mental wellbeing, they remain inaccessible to many who could benefit from a support animal. Through simple interactions with the virtual pet, mental check-ins, assistance with scheduling, and information about real emotional support animals, BARK! strives to provide individuals with a sense of companionship and support that a traditional emotional support animal would provide, in a significantly more accessible medium.

Working with the New Hospitality Institute and building upon research from the H.E.A.R.D. Collective, this capstone builds an online space for hospitality workers and interested academics to contribute research around this industry not often studied with a data-driven sociological lens. This online space first acts as an archive of public policy created or activated by the pandemic relevant to hospitality workers in the United States, and will hopefully develop into portal to deal with a variety of labor concerns in the service industry.

Isolated seniors and disconnected teens - our application aims to bridge the inter-generational gap between youth and elders in the community. As service hours are required for Seattle Public Schools students, our platform allows them to acquire these hours through connecting them to seniors in the community who may need help. Seniors request help for small household tasks by posting on the platform, where students can then pick up the ones which match their schedules. The more time young and old people spend together, the more both parties benefit.