Hi, I’m Kayla Minji Kim, a Creative Technologist and researcher currently pursuing MS in Digital Media at Georgia Institute of Technology.

I have a Bachelors of Fine Arts in New Media Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I focused on creating high-fidelity 3D environment design. Over time, my interests shifted from building visually polished scenes to thinking about how people actually experience the virtual space—how environments respond, change, and come alive through interaction.

My work sits at the intersection of spatial storytelling, immersive media, and human-centered design. Drawing from my experience in 3D world-building, I use real-time engines to prototype interactive systems that combine visual design, technical implementation, and user behavior. I am especially interested in Situated Visualization and how digital layers placed in physical space can support learning, interpretation, and engagement.

I primarily work with Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, and Adobe suite programs using real-time 3D simulation and creative coding to explore how people perceive and navigate spatial information. I see technology not just as a tool for display, but as a medium for designing experiences people can inhabit.

My goal is to build immersive systems that are grounded in strong visual design, technically sound, and informed by HCI principles, translating research ideas into practical, interactive experiences that people can meaningfully engage with.