Amber Dewey Schultz

Applying user psychology, I design interactive and playable storytelling experiences that encourage engagement and meaning-making. My design process is rooted in empathy and iteration, incorporating human-centered design processes. My experience design research includes developing taxonomies and interaction models that make developing audience-centered interactive and playable theatre work more accessible to theatre artists.

As an educator, I work towards actively dismantling barriers between disciplines, fostering a more collaborative environment that fuels creative opportunities for students. My goal is to equip students with the mindsets and skills needed to be at the forefront of interdisciplinary work, cultivating innovative trailblazers. My work at UIUC reflects this goal in my development of interdisciplinary courses and programs around design thinking for the Siebel Center for Design, and teaching about and leading collaborative projects in interactive theatre, escape rooms, and table-top role-playing games for the Department of Theatre and for Game Studies and Design.

I am also an experienced strategist and manager having developed and led teams in both professional theatre and higher education. I excel at assessing, developing, and implementing processes and systems to encourage efficiency and scalability. Taking a human-centered approach, I develop and lead teams in response to the needs of the project or department. I am particularly adept at developing connections with collaborators, fostering partnership across the campus, our community, and beyond.