Who are you, and what do you do?
I’m Isabel! I’m a game developer, artist, and writer based in NYC. I make web games like Number Gacha and Breadwinner that deconstruct game mechanics and interrogate why we play. I also sometimes write stories. I love exploring the intersection between games, storytelling, and psychology.
What do you use to get the job done?
I use a M3 Macbook Pro for development. Usually it’s paired with a huge, curved monitor, which I got from my job a few years ago and now can’t go back– I love seeing all of my windows on one cohesive view. I also use the old-school wired Apple earbuds for sound. It’s lightweight, and a tangible mic is so much easier to handle for meetings. I have a pre-built 80% mechanical keyboard (I once built my own, but it was bad and died– I’ve learned my lesson) with a well-loved fidget spinner keycap in the corner.
I use Figma to sketch out my ideas, and React + VSCode to implement them. I rotate between other tools depending on the project’s needs– Claude, Notion, and GIMP are common supplements. My most used web tools are probably remove.bg and ezgif.com.
I have an iPad Air Max that I use for digital art. I use Procreate and an Apple Pencil to get the job done there. I also like to keep a physical notebook around my setup, my preference is an unlined original Moleskine. If I’m really struggling with a problem, I find that scribbling about it is the best way to unblock myself.
What would be your dream setup?
I would love what I currently have, and then a space next to it that I could use as a painting studio. My cables would all be managed AMAZINGLY. And then maybe I’d have a nice view beyond my monitor, of a city skyline or body of water or both.