fizza ahmed Fizza Ahmed Logo - Home
Fizza Ahmed looking at the camera wearing a professional white shirt

Hi there, I'm Fizza!

Programmer, Designer, Artist     (She/Her)

fizzaahmed2000@hotmail.com | Toronto, ON

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Welcome to my digital canvas! I am a digital designer driven to transform ideas into visually and conceptually striking experiences. I aim to use my robust academic background to apply thoughtful design strategies to reduce social and technological accessibility gaps in digital media, and to advocate for improved accessibility and user experience. Recently I took part in the Develop at Ubisoft program where I worked with a mentor to develop a design document of a High Value Character for the game Watch Dogs: Legion. View the final design document here.

Technical Skills

Programming Languages and Frameworks

Design Knowledge

Game Design Programs

Additional Proficiencies

Education

Toronto Metropolitan University

2022 - 2023

Master of Digital Media

Major Research Project:
Somatosensory Interface for the Immersion of Players with Visual Impairments.
Using OpenCV and Tesseract-OCR, this project resulted in a Python program that takes in information on player and enemy location, and returns haptic feedback to inform the player. The ultimate goal would be an API that could be leveraged by game creators to allow their game to natively feed the gamepad information.

McMaster University

2018 - 2022

Honours Bachelor in Humanities

Double Major in Multimedia and Theatre & Film Studies
Summa Cum Laude

Thesis Project:
The View from the Top
A serious game about the cycle of anxiety. It is a single level platformer that demonstrates how anxiety is a circle that cannot be broken out of.

Online Certificate Courses

  • Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
    Google Certificates
    July 2024
    View Certificate (PDF)
  • CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript
    HarvardX
    In Progress
  • Introduction to Web Accessibility
    W3Cx
    July 2024
    View Certificate (PDF)
  • Learn React
    Codecademy
    In Progress

Experience

Interface Developer - Toronto Metropolitan University

Nov 2024 - Present

Performs web application and front-end interface design and development, using an array of software applications, techniques and tools. Designs and develops high quality learning and teaching tools, gaming and virtual simulation applications for e-learning initiatives at The Chang School. Participates in the full project lifecycle, from conceptual design to executing interaction and visual design, as a part of a multidisciplinary team. Provides advice and recommendations on user-centred design and information architecture to follow throughout the application development process, and participates in the early stages of user research and ideation.

Freelance Graphic Design - First Work Ontario

June 2024

Redesigned curriculum design template to be more visually appealing and professional, designed to appeal to and engage youth aged 15-18. Redesigned a sample lesson plan template and a slide deck.

Game Design Stream - Develop at Ubisoft

Sept 2023 - March 2024

Worked with a mentor to develop and present a developed concept for a High Value Character for the game Watch Dogs: Legion. The character had to fit in world, have three to four abilities, and any other pertinent information. Reached the semi-final stage, up against 9 other mentees.

Web Designer - Networked Imagination Laboratory

Sept 2021 - April 2023

Worked independently to design and develop the website for the McMaster Networked Imagination Laboratory. Coded the website from scratch, using HTML, CSS, and Javascript based on client guidelines and meetings. Applied time management and project management skills to meet project deadlines.

Graduate Assistant - Toronto Met University

Sept 2022 - Jan 2023

Assessed student works in media theory and gave constructive feedback to aid in furthering their learning.

Teaching Assistant - McMaster University

Jan 2021 - April 2022

Lead tutorials for four multimedia and theatre courses, both virtually and in person, teaching students various media and film concepts, as well as instructed them in the usage of Adobe programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign, and coding in Processing and p5.js. Courses taught are Introduction to Multimedia, Introduction to Theatre and Film, and Design and Code.

Student Success Team Leader – McMaster University

Aug 2019 - April 2022

Collaborated as a team and worked individually to welcome new students to McMaster and ensure their first week is fun and happy. Helped the representative team maintain morale and school spirit throughout the week as well as facilitated small and large group activities. Mentored and advised new students, assisting their transition into university.

Peer Mentor - McMaster University

Sept 2020 - April 2021

Worked with 3 mentees to provide a level of peer support that isn’t always accessible through regular academic channels. Engaged them in conversations about their goals for the upcoming school year, guiding them to find the best engagement opportunities, and answering and questions and concerns they may have.

President - Pierre Elliott Trudeau H.S. Theatrics Drama Council

Sept 2014 - June 2018

Created and maintained club website, as well as maintained the club’s social media on platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Planned large scale events including annual cabaret and SEARS competition. Directed a team of 30+ people and conducted weekly meetings to develop and execute the committee’s mandate and to foster teambuilding and managing schoolwide theatrics events in a team setting. Led various fundraising initiatives including selling Student Price Card memberships.