About Me

Hi, I'm Joao Henares — a Technical Designer currently studying at UCF's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA). I focus on building gameplay systems that are both mechanically expressive and technically robust, whether that's combat and progression systems, physics-driven traversal, puzzle mechanics, or dynamic audio experiences.

I earned my B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, where I developed a strong foundation in programming, systems thinking, and problem-solving. Over time, I realized I wanted to work closer to the design layer of games — not only implementing features, but shaping how mechanics feel and how systems interact.

At FIEA, I've built and iterated on custom character controllers, object pooling architectures, dynamic soundtrack systems, combat progression loops, and rapid prototypes across multiple genres. I'm currently leading the design and development of an unannounced project for the 338th Training Squadron of the U.S. Air Force, coordinating cross-disciplinary collaboration while owning core gameplay systems implementation.

I'm particularly drawn to roles that sit between design and engineering — where I can help define mechanics, build scalable systems, and iterate toward experiences that reward mastery and creativity.