Marcel Bornstein
Verified Expert in Engineering
VR/AR and Unity Developer
New York, NY, United States
Toptal member since September 16, 2024
Marcel is a self-taught Unity game developer who considers creativity his superpower. As an artist, explorer, C# programmer, XR specialist, and VR/AR developer, he is eager to push the boundaries of human creation and technology. Marcel is dedicated to leveraging his passion, knowledge, and experience to work collaboratively on diverse projects. He profoundly understands Unity, excels at rapid ideation, communicates patiently, solves problems with dedication, and has a keen eye for detail.
Portfolio
Experience
- Ideation - 20 years
- Adobe Photoshop - 14 years
- Game Design - 10 years
- Unity - 10 years
- C# - 10 years
- Blender - 5 years
- Meta Quest - 3 years
- Oculus Presence Platform - 1 year
Availability
Preferred Environment
Unity, Blender, Meta Quest, Adobe Photoshop
The most amazing...
...team I've spearheaded won 2nd place in the 2024 Meta Quest Presence Platform Hackathon for Utility and Design Experience.
Work Experience
UI Designer | Unity Developer
Freelance
- Discussed, researched, and presented aesthetics and themes for UI and game design.
- Designed natural, immersive, impactful UI through iteration informed by client and user feedback.
- Developed JSON-powered UI system for seamless data management.
Senior Full-stack Developer
JamLoop
- Formed and led a team that developed an award-winning mixed reality application.
- Crafted a cutting-edge XR tool for collaborative music creation, pioneering new methods for multi-user spatial interaction and immersive visualization.
- Coded an XR tool in Unity, combining multiple new 3rd-party systems and hardware capabilities on Quest 3.
Full-stack Developer
Server Update
- Programmed novel movement, interaction, and game systems informed by and improved upon modern XR trends.
- Designed, modeled, and animated memorable and dynamic characters and gameplay.
- Created striking visual effects and developed 3D tile-based environment systems and assets.
- Researched and crafted intricate fictional game worlds and developed engaging narratives within them.
Unity VR/AR Development Instructor
XR Terra
- Led hundreds of individuals and student teams in rapidly creating prototypes and debugging issues in XR projects.
- Developed and implemented VR and AR projects and course materials to showcase specific technologies.
- Pioneered technology-powered and human-focused learning techniques, significantly improving student engagement, attention, comprehension speed, and conceptual depth.
Founder | Inventor
Ality
- Founded an entrepreneurial venture and managed product development, manufacturing, and business operations.
- Conceptualized and refined products through iteration, optimizing function and user experience.
- Conducted extensive research to identify optimal materials and methods, effectively balancing quality and cost.
- Designed and implemented a manufacturing process that optimized workflow, increased productivity, and enhanced quality.
- Acquired, built, maintained, organized, and operated equipment and supplies for the manufacturing process.
Medical Office Assistant
Holistic Oasis Chiropractic
- Maintained patient data by updating, verifying, and organizing records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Managed financial transactions, including processing payments and maintaining daily records, reducing discrepancies, and improving billing efficiency.
- Controlled patient flow by scheduling appointments, handling inquiries—especially sensitive or private matters—and coordinating with staff, ensuring patient satisfaction.
Experience
JamLoop | Award-winning Multiplayer Music Creation and Collaboration XR Tool
https://devpost.com/software/project-grapeRESPONSIBILITIES
• Organizing, leading, and collaborating on development and design.
• Programming, prototyping, and iterating on hand tracking and audio interactions.
• Innovating multi-user mixed-reality visualization solutions.
Server Update | VR Action-adventure Game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNGNRCyfQTQThis game results from my years of practice and research, and I am currently developing a demo to seek funding and build a team.
I designed and developed all game elements, drawing from my years of practice and research. I also collaborated with a musician to create an immersive soundtrack and crafted the game's design to spark discussions about current XR and social trends.
KEY FEATURES
• Unique storyline exploring technology's forward movement and its societal effects.
• Core mechanics include a 3D tile-based open world and teleportation system built with XRIT.
• Physics-based volleyball game system for engaging gameplay experiences.
SkyWorld | Cloudlands VR Development Exercise
https://youtu.be/yfgYHv280x8TASKS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
• Rapidly prototyped and programmed game systems, effectively emulating core mechanics.
• Utilized XRIT for locomotion and interaction, leveraging Unity's physics system for realistic game simulation.
• Designed engaging and educational puzzles to showcase the system's potential.
• Created a vibrant and colorful aesthetic to enhance the overall user experience.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fine and Studio Arts
Fashion Institute of Technology - New York, NY, USA
Skills
Tools
Adobe Photoshop, Blender, GitHub, TextMesh Pro, Git
Languages
C#
Frameworks
Unity, Unity3D
Paradigms
Rapid Prototyping, Mobile Development, HIPAA Compliance
Platforms
Oculus
Storage
JSON
Other
Ideation, Sculpture, Game Design, Design, Research, Prototyping, Game Physics, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Oculus Presence Platform, Meta Quest, Meta Quest 3, Meta Presence Platform, Interaction Design (IxD), Mixed Reality (MR), Illustration, Color Theory, Game Art, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Classroom-based Instruction, Technical Instruction, Sound Design, Narrative Design, World Building, 3D Modeling, Manufacturing, UI Research, Hand Tracking, System Design, Unity Shaders, UX Research, Oculus Quest, Extended Reality (XR), 3D Games, Mobile Apps, Shaders, Visual Effects (VFX), 3D, Audio, 360° Video, Technical Art, Healthcare IT, Health, Healthcare Software, Healthcare Services, Healthcare & Insurance, Healthcare Sales, Health Insurance, IT, Patient Portals, Financial Records, Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Medical Coding, Medical Billing, Medical Software, Game Development, ChatGPT API
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