From Viewer to Creator: Shaping the User Experience with a Filmmaker’s Eye

Meet Daniel Ramos (BS in Computer Science ’26), a second-year student studying Computer Science in the Seidenberg school. Daniel is busy! When he is not in class or hanging out with friends in the Goldstein Academic Center, you can find him walking around the Pleasantville campus (both for enjoyment and as part of his on-campus job), on the shuttle to/from the New York City campus or at the Jacob Burns Film Center, a cultural center in the heart of Pleasantville.

Daniel developed a love for computers at an early age. Influenced by his older brother who, too, had an appreciation for technology, Daniel evolved his engagement from tinkering with computers in middle school to following the activities of tech giants like Apple and Samsung, to taking advanced high school computing courses. “By the time I was in high school, I had accumulated a lot of coding and design skills,” notes Daniel. “I knew I wanted to further my knowledge in these areas.”

When it came time to apply to college, Pace’s Seidenberg School was top-of-mind for Daniel. He’d connected with an alum who shared positive feedback about the school, and he observed during visits some of the characteristics of Seidenberg that made it a fit for him. “I immediately noticed the connectedness between students and professors,” shares Daniel.

The open and friendly atmosphere and small class sizes make it easy to collaborate, ask questions and develop the skills I need for the future.

One career path Daniel is considering pertains to User Interface (UI), which refers to the look, feel and interactivity of a web page.

That Daniel is considering UI as a possible professional direction makes a lot of sense, given his interests outside of Pace. One major hobby of Daniel’s is film. “I followed indie movies for a while,” notes Daniel, “and during the pandemic, I expanded my viewing library immensely.” Beyond taking in the plot and characters, Daniel has a keen eye for the artistic aspects of a film that make it unique. “I notice elements that make the film more of an immersive experience,” he shares. “I also find myself observing and considering the ways in which the smallest details can make a huge difference in my movie-watching experience.” Daniel hopes to forge a career path that will merge his focus on the finer points of design with his enthusiasm for coding and technology.

Daniel’s current job is as a Tour Guide for the Pace Welcome Center and as a Student Assistant. In these roles, he gets to interact with prospective students and families, answer their questions and share his Pace experience. “It’s gratifying to be able to share Pace and Seidenberg’s high points with those who are considering enrolling,” notes Daniel. “Much like the Pace alum who spoke with me when I was a senior in high school, I am now the one to share feedback and perspective with students deciding on their undergraduate path.” Daniel often describes Pace as a ‘Goldilocks’ school. Not too big, not too small, just right.

I love that I can encounter familiar faces each day, and also meet new people.

One venue for meeting new people is Pace’s New York City campus where Daniel travels regularly. He is hoping to explore taking a course on the NYC campus at some point in the future. “It would be great to study at the NYC campus, even for just a class,” notes Daniel. “In the meantime, I like to visit NYC as I am inspired by the surroundings and I have easy access to one of my favorite movie theaters.”

We’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Daniel.