Engineering Immersive Experiences

I’m an engineer who loves turning ideas into experiences. My work blends automation, modeling, and design thinking with a deep interest in themed entertainment. Here, you’ll find projects that reflect how I approach engineering with curiosity, creativity, and a guest-centered mindset.

Website Overview

About Me: Who I am and what I do!
Portfolio: Featured projects
Resume
Contact: Let's Connect!

About Me

I’m Dalia Widmer, an engineer and communicator passionate about creating immersive, intuitive experiences. I recently completed my B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics at High Point University and am now pursuing my M.A. in Communication and Business Leadership. My work sits at the intersection of creativity and technical problem-solving, combining automation, simulation, and user-centered design.

I’ve gained experience through engineering internships, automation projects, simulation modeling, and interdisciplinary coursework — all of which shaped my interest in themed entertainment. My goal is to design systems and experiences that feel seamless, engaging, and meaningful for guests.

Outside of engineering, I enjoy storytelling, writing, exploring themed environments, and learning how technology can support memorable experiences.

Technical Skills

Creative + Communication Skills

  • Automation and controls

  • Ignition SCADA

  • PLC logic and tag scripting

  • COMSOL Multiphysics

  • LTspice

  • MATLAB

  • Circuit design and analysis

  • Prototyping and testing

  • Technical writing

  • Visual communication

  • User-centered design

  • Presentation development

  • Storytelling

  • Cross-functional collaboration

Fun Facts

  • I love themed entertainment and hope to work on ride and show systems.

  • My top three roller coasters are Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Sirens’ Curse, and Revenge of the Mummy.

  • I write a fantasy book series in my free time.

  • I was club soccer captain during undergrad.

  • I enjoy creating TikTok content and documenting my adventures.

  • I’m from Richmond, VA and love watching scary movies with my family.

Portfolio

A collection of my engineering, simulation, automation, and creative projects. Each project highlights my technical abilities, problem-solving approach, and the interdisciplinary work that reflects how I think as an engineer and communicator.

Book Buddy

  • Book Buddy is a four-wheel autonomous book cart designed to assist library staff with transporting books across indoor environments for my senior capstone project. The system integrates LIDAR-based detection, LED slot indicators, barcode scanning, and structured test procedures to ensure safe and reliable operation. Our goal was to create a functional prototype capable of navigating hallways, identifying obstacles, and delivering books to designated locations.

  • I contributed to the development, testing, and validation of the cart’s navigation and user experience. My responsibilities included:

    • Supporting controls logic development for the motor-driven front wheels

    • Design of cart prototype and 3D prints

    • Assisting with navigation testing, obstacle validation, and safety checks

    • Helping design and carry out formal test procedures aligned with engineering requirements

    • Preparing documentation for our design reviews and final demonstration

    • Integration of LED feedback for book slot identification

    • LIDAR sensors

    • Motor controllers

    • Solidworks / 3D printing

    • Arduino / microcontroller programming

    • Prototyping & mechanical integration

    • User-centered design

    • Structured testing procedures

    • Documentation and reporting

  • 1. Problem Identification
    I was working in the library when my boss fell ill and was unable to push the heavy carts, leading to the idea of the Book Buddy. Libraries need a reliable, autonomous way to transport books safely without requiring staff to manually carry loads across floors or between sections.

    2. Concept Development
    We designed a four-wheel system with two motor-driven wheels in the front and two passive wheels in the back, ensuring balanced turning and stability. We included secure slots for books, along with an identification system for smooth book reclassification.

    3. Prototyping
    The team built a wood-framed cart and integrated sensors, motor drivers, and LED indicators. Couplers and wheel attachments were iterated to improve alignment and movement.

    4. Navigation & Testing
    We developed step-by-step test plans, including:

    • obstacle detection

    • hallway navigation

    • book identification

    • LED indicator responsiveness

    5. Refinement
    Based on test data, we made adjustments to wheel alignment, LED brightness, and sensor placement to improve consistency and usability.

    • Successfully demonstrated autonomous forward movement and directional response

    • Implemented functional LED slot indicators for book pickup/delivery

    • Improved structural stability through multiple mechanical iterations

    • Completed a full suite of formal test procedures with documented results

Mohawk Industries Automation Internship

  • During my Automation Engineering Internship at Mohawk Industries, I designed and improved real-time uptime dashboards using Ignition SCADA and PLC data. These dashboards were used across their four manufacturing departments to help operators and supervisors monitor machine performance, identify downtime, and make faster production decisions. My work focused on developing functional screens, writing and testing tag scripts, and ensuring data flowed accurately from PLCs to the HMI.

  • I was responsible for both visual and functional aspects of the SCADA system, including:

    • Designing and updating HMI screens to clearly display uptime, downtime, and machine status

    • Writing custom tag scripts (ex: MachineUptimeSeconds, MachineDowntimeSeconds)

    • Pulling data from PLCs and verifying accuracy in Ignition

    • Troubleshooting tag behavior and iterating based on operator feedback

    • Supporting cross-department deployment of the new screen format

    • Preparing documentation for engineering and supervisor review

    • Ignition SCADA

    • PLC tags & scripting

    • HMI design

    • Data visualization

    • Troubleshooting & debugging

    • Operator feedback integration

    • Technical documentation

  • 1. Understanding Department Needs
    Met with supervisors to understand how each department measures productivity and what information operators need to see at a glance.

    2. Screen Redesign
    Created clear, intuitive screens displaying:

    • live machine uptime and downtime

    • run status indicators

    • shift-based counters

    • machine IDs and station info

    3. Tag Scripting Development
    Developed scripts to calculate and reset uptime/downtime values, using real-time tag changes from PLCs. Ensured accuracy through cycle testing and historical trend checks.

    4. Data Verification & Troubleshooting
    Tested tags under real machine conditions to confirm:

    • accurate counting

    • proper resetting

    • correct triggering on machine start/stop events

    5. Deployment & Feedback
    Rolled out prototype screens to operators, collected feedback, and refined visual layout and logic for clarity and consistency across departments.

  • Delivered updated uptime dashboards used across four manufacturing departments

    • Improved visibility into machine performance and shift trends

    • Enhanced operator usability through streamlined screen layouts

    • Created reliable custom tag scripts for uptime/downtime calculation

    • Strengthened cross-functional communication with engineering and production teams

SmartPark Parking System

  • SmartPark is a design thinking project I completed within a team in graduate school, focused on understanding and improving the student parking experience at High Point University. Our team conducted interviews, mapped user frustrations, identified system breakdowns, and developed concept solutions aimed at reducing stress, improving communication, and making parking more predictable for students.

  • I led several key parts of the design thinking process, including:

    • Conducting student interviews and gathering firsthand insights

    • Updating our Empathize/Define findings after additional outreach

    • Creating affinity clusters, experience diagrams, and Rose–Bud–Thorn analyses

    • Helping shape the initial concept direction for SmartPark

    • Supporting early poster development to communicate our idea visually

    • Synthesizing data into clear themes that guided our final concept

    • User interviews

    • Empathy mapping

    • Affinity clustering

    • Rose–Bud–Thorn

    • Experience diagramming

    • Concept development

    • Visual communication

    • Collaborative ideation

  • 1. Empathize
    Interviewed students to understand daily parking challenges, emotional responses, and recurring behavior patterns. Common themes included uncertainty, frustration during peak hours, and a lack of real-time parking information.

    2. Define
    Created affinity clusters and experience diagrams to uncover root causes and summarize problem areas. Defined our main problem statement:

    Students need a reliable, predictable way to understand parking availability so they can reduce stress and plan their day more effectively.

    3. Ideate
    Generated creative solutions through brainstorming, Alternative Worlds, and constraints-free “magic thinking.” Explored ideas involving real-time updates, route recommendations, and campus-wide communication improvements.

    4. Prototype
    Developed early poster concepts and low-fidelity visuals to communicate how SmartPark would deliver information and improve student flow. Focused on clarity, accessibility, and ease of use.

    5. Test (Concept-Level)
    Revisited interviewees to gather feedback on the SmartPark idea. Adjusted communication and feature priorities based on student responses.

    • Identified recurring pain points in student parking behavior and communication gaps

    • Synthesized interview findings into clear opportunity areas

    • Developed a concept for a user-centered parking information solution

    • Created early prototypes and poster drafts demonstrating the SmartPark approach

    • Strengthened our understanding of campus mobility challenges through student feedback

Creative Personal Projects

  • Outside of engineering, I work on creative projects that strengthen my storytelling, communication, and branding skills. These projects represent the imaginative side of my work and highlight how I combine creativity with problem-solving, whether I’m writing, building a personal brand, or exploring narrative design.

    This page includes two ongoing projects: my TikTok content creation and my original fantasy book series.

  • Overview

    I create lifestyle, gym, fashion, and post-grad content on TikTok, where I focus on storytelling and building a relatable, engaging digital presence. My content blends authenticity with strategy, helping me grow an audience and collaborate with brands.

    What I Do

    • Create and edit short-form videos

    • Develop content themes aligned with personal branding

    • Track analytics to understand what resonates with my audience

    • Collaborate with brands in beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and fitness

    • Document travels, events, and everyday experiences in a fun, relatable way

    Skills Developed

    • Digital storytelling

    • Brand communication

    • Video editing

    • Audience analysis

    • Visual consistency and tone development

  • Overview

    I am currently writing an original fantasy series that explores seven realms, political structures, magic systems, and character-driven storytelling. The project includes worldbuilding, character arcs, cultural design, and long-form narrative development.

    My series draws inspiration from the popular fantasy series Throne of Glass, especially the way Sarah J. Maas intertwines complex worldbuilding with grounded, real-world insights.

    What I Do

    • Develop magic systems, political dynamics, and lore

    • Outline book structure and character development

    • Build a cohesive universe with rules, constraints, and cultural depth

    • Explore themes of identity, power, sacrifice, and legacy

    • Write drafts of scenes, dialogue, and major plot points

    Skills Developed

    • Worldbuilding

    • Narrative structure

    • Character design

    • Long-form writing

    • Creativity and thematic development

Resume

You can download my full resume below

Download my resume