{"id":1749,"date":"2026-04-02T00:43:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T00:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bfashow.dmd.uconn.edu\/2026\/?p=1749"},"modified":"2026-04-07T19:43:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:43:00","slug":"sidequest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bfashow.dmd.uconn.edu\/2026\/sidequest\/","title":{"rendered":"Sidequest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio uagb-block-vtch0jvd alignwide uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-7gzwqvxn uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><p class=\"uagb-ifb-title-prefix\">App Prototype<\/p><h1 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">sidequest<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sidequest - Trailer - Daniel Martin-Madrid\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1180925866?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio uagb-block-5d14a065 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div data-aos= \"fade-right\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-4b65b89d\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e0082cf6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-26e8081a\"><h2 class=\"uagb-heading-text\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Daniel Martin<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-03f5dcbb\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">New Haven, CT<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-8ae5a0fe\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">Advisor: <strong>Matthew Worwood<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-6f5037cc\"><h4 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">Artist Bio<\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">Daniel Martin is an artist and designer majoring in Digital Media and Design at the University of Connecticut. Born and raised in the baroque town of Comayagua, Honduras, he later spent his teenage years in Norwalk, Connecticut. Both communities foster strong artistic traditions, particularly in painting and drawing, allowing Daniel to develop a solid foundation in traditional studio practices. This background led him to pursue a concentration in Web and Interactive Media Design, where visual storytelling intersects with technology.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0\">Growing up surrounded by folklore, ghost stories, and cryptic forest legends shaped his fascination with dark romanticism and gothic aesthetics. His work explores themes of longing, belonging, happiness, and love, aiming to create emotional connections with viewers. Grounded in strong family and cultural values, Daniel\u2019s design practice emphasizes empathy, unity, and human-centered expression.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div data-aos= \"fade-left\" data-aos-duration=\"400\" data-aos-delay=\"0\" data-aos-easing=\"ease\" data-aos-once=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-787c2033\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-33d869bf wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bfashow.dmd.uconn.edu\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Daniel-Martin-Headshot-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-1617\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" title=\"Daniel Martin Headshot\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio uagb-block-f6f9c3e4 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-899e302d\"><h4 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">Artist Statement<\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">For my senior project, I created a social media app in response to growing frustration with how mainstream platforms&nbsp;operate. Over the summer, I became increasingly aware of how popular social media apps surveil users, manipulate behavior, spread propaganda, and prioritize profit over genuine connection. Conversations with friends confirmed this concern and sparked discussions about what a more ethical, welcoming, and emotionally healthy platform could look like.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">At the same time, I felt disconnected living in Connecticut, where socializing often requires spending money. Many common activities revolve around consumption, which contrasts sharply with the culture I grew up in. My upbringing emphasized outdoor life and shared public spaces such as parks, cultural events, rivers, and informal gatherings. These spaces fostered&nbsp;a strong sense&nbsp;of community, belonging, and accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">This project&nbsp;emerged&nbsp;from the desire to reconnect people locally rather than globally. Instead of encouraging virality or online performance, the app prioritizes real-world interaction and community building. It highlights overlooked public spaces like parks, libraries, museums, and plazas, and supports features such as group chats and scheduled hangouts to make socializing more approachable.&nbsp;Through this project, I aim to combat isolation, promote outdoor engagement, and reimagine social media as a tool for care, presence, and shared experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio uagb-block-f263f817 uagb-slider-container\"><div class=\"uagb-slides uagb-swiper\"><div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-ade93ac2\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-cdc44df8 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-d5bb1180 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bfashow.dmd.uconn.edu\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Daniel-Martin-Design-Senior-Project-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-1750\" width=\"1600\" height=\"765\" title=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"presentation\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-8355035d\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-02af7eaa alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-01ebb901 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bfashow.dmd.uconn.edu\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Daniel-Martin-Design-Senior-Project-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-1751\" width=\"1600\" height=\"766\" title=\"Daniel Martin Design Senior Project 2\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-bb90d1b8\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-91d3ad2e alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-7d3c3272 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bfashow.dmd.uconn.edu\/2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Daniel-Martin-Design-Senior-Project-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-1752\" width=\"1600\" height=\"763\" title=\"Daniel Martin Design Senior Project 3\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div><div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div><div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daniel Martin New Haven, CT Advisor: Matthew Worwood Artist Bio Daniel Martin is an artist and designer majoring in Digital [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":1750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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