Projects I've worked on by Susan AcharyaProjects I've worked on by Susan Acharya

Projects I've worked on

Susan Acharya

Susan Acharya

As a product builder with experience across UI/UX, engineering, AI, and strategy, I’ve worked on both professional and personal projects that blur the lines between creativity and technology. My approach is hands-on — from designing user flows and visual systems to architecting features, refining user experiences, and running marketing experiments to grow traction. Below are a few highlights that capture my process and impact.

Arcade Games: Retro Fun Meets Modern Interactivity

Role: Product Designer, Frontend Engineer, Game Designer Tech & Tools: React, TypeScript, Canvas, Web Audio API
Arcade Games began as an experiment to reimagine the magic of old-school arcades for the web. I led end-to-end product development — from UI sketches to pixel art-inspired interfaces, gameplay logic, and responsive controls.
Each mini-game was designed to balance simplicity and replayability. I focused on tactile feedback, retro lighting, and sound cues that reinforced immersion. From a product perspective, I designed engagement loops around points, rewards, and leaderboard progression, which encouraged players to keep returning.
This project taught me how to merge nostalgia with modern browser tech — while also testing player retention patterns and emotional hooks through small-scale marketing campaigns on gaming communities.

Word Battle: Turning Words into Weapons

Role: Product Manager, UX Designer, Full Stack Developer Tech & Tools: Next.js, Redis, NextAuth, WebSockets
Word Battle is a real-time multiplayer word game where players can challenge each other across trivia and puzzle rounds. I handled both the product direction and technical execution — including designing interfaces, setting up the backend for real-time rooms, and integrating chat and authentication systems.
From a UX standpoint, I emphasized social engagement — easy invites, fast matches, and dynamic feedback during gameplay. The chat and room mechanics were designed to replicate the fun and chaos of in-person game nights.
I also led small-scale marketing trials to test user acquisition strategies via Discord and Twitter, measuring conversion from share links and real-time invites.

F1 Simulation: The Strategy Behind the Speed

Role: Product Owner, System Designer, Frontend Engineer Tech & Tools: Node.js, Socket.io, React
F1 Simulation was a complex system simulating management, racing, and live decision-making. I structured the simulation loop and designed how player decisions (driver contracts, staff upgrades, car improvements) impacted race outcomes in real time.
I created the UI to visualize car positions, pit strategies, and performance deltas dynamically. My focus was on crafting a clean, data-heavy interface that remained readable and engaging under pressure.
From a product perspective, I designed the core engagement loop — balancing long-term management strategy with the excitement of live race updates. It became a playground for testing decision-feedback cycles and live data visualization in browser games.

CineLyric: When Memory Meets Machine Learning

Role: Product Designer, ML Engineer, AI Strategist Tech & Tools: Python, TF-IDF, Cosine Similarity, Flask
CineLyric started from a simple idea: what if users could find a movie or song just by recalling a single lyric or quote? I designed and built the MVP using natural language processing and similarity scoring to identify content from partial inputs.
I designed the mobile interface to feel personal and fast — emphasizing clarity and search delight. On the backend, I implemented machine learning models to process text efficiently and generate ranked results.
This project showcased my end-to-end workflow — from building data pipelines and training models to designing a UI that made machine intelligence feel human and intuitive.

Reflection

Across these projects, my focus has always been to create products that feel good to use. Whether it’s a game, an AI-powered app, or a web platform, I combine design, engineering, and strategy to craft experiences that connect emotionally and function beautifully. I thrive in the space where product thinking meets creative experimentation — building, testing, and iterating fast.
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Posted Oct 26, 2025

Reimagined old-school arcades for the web with modern interactivity.