Ivana Benci | Writing

BIO

Communication Specialist for Technology & Research

I help technical and research teams communicate complex ideas clearly. With experience across industry and academia in computer science, engineering, and media arts, I offer project-based writing, documentation, and content strategy for technology-driven products and initiatives.

I specialize in:

Technical documentation and related content that engineers and end-users rely on for clarity and accuracy
Communication strategy for innovative products
Translating research insights into accessible, compelling narratives

See below for my writing samples and professional background.

For a detailed work history, check out my LinkedIn, and for academic publications, my Google Scholar profile.

Ph.D. Media Arts and Technology, University of California, Santa Barbara
M.S. Computer Science, George Washington University

WRITING SAMPLES

Technical & Research Writing

These publications appear under my previous last name - Andjelkovic.

Moodplay: Interactive Music Recommendation based on Artists' Mood Similarity. Andjelkovic, I.; Parra, D.; and O'Donovan, J. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 2018.

Moodplay: Interactive Mood-based Music Discovery andRecommendation. Andjelkovic, I.; Parra, D.; and O'Donovan, J. In Proceedings of the UMAP Conference, 2016. ACM

API documentation created for a startup prototype app, written alongside the codebase to give developers an easy, structured overview of system functionalities

Short business proposal developed as an entry for a competition to join a research-oriented startup incubator, outlining the concept and technical foundation of the project

Information Design & Analysis

Documentation showcasing custom data visualization concepts and explanatory notes for artist metrics such as streams, digital revenue, geography, and temporal trends.

Co-authored a white paper on the development of a research-oriented social environment, serving as the lead designer for data visualizations.

Narrative & Brand Communication

Created the brand identity, packaging design, and website for a boutique jewelry line, developing a cohesive visual and verbal tone. The shop is newly launched, with sales and promotion scheduled to begin soon.

Short summary of an in-progress book project, outlining the concept and themes of a reflective narrative that traces ancestral patterns.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Research & Technical Communication

I specialize in turning complex technical and academic material into clear, structured narratives for both specialists and broader audiences. My background in audio signal processing and human–computer interaction enables me to understand complex systems and communicate them with precision and clarity.

SELECTED PROJECTS

Peer-Reviewed Research Papers. Main author of published research in the ACM Conference Proceedings and the International Journal of Human–Computer Studies. These papers explore mood-based music recommendation systems in the context of human–computer interaction.
Presentations and Teaching. Developed and delivered lectures, talks, and course materials on computing fundamentals, data visualization, and music recommendation systems. Experience includes teaching at Northern Virginia Community College and the University of California, Santa Barbara, presenting at Audio Engineering Society events, and more.
Technical Documentation & Reports. Created documentation for embedded audio architectures, software APIs, and data-processing systems, ensuring clarity and usability for engineering teams.

Data Visualization & Information Design

I bring together technical understanding and communication design to turn data into visual narratives. My experience spans interactive research tools, analytical dashboards, and explanatory writing that helps users see the story behind the data.

SELECTED PROJECTS

MoodPlay. Designed interactive visualizations for exploring emotional dimensions of music, developed as part of PhD research. Combined knowledge from music pshycology with interactive interface design to map music artists in 2D space based on moods, in addition to developing a hybrid music recommendation algorithm. Demo video here!
Stem Disintermedia. Created consumer-facing web dashboards visualizing the performance of distributed digital content (music and video) across major platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes. Helped artists and managers interpret metrics through intuitive visual design. Stem platform.
RoSE (Research-Oriented Social Environment). Led visualization design in a multidisciplinary research team investigating online reading and scholarly networks. Developed novel visual representations of relationships within large bibliographic datasets. More about RoSE.

Engineering experience

My previous work in digital audio signal processing provided the foundation for a deep understanding of technology and complex systems. This experience anchors my writing in technical reality and precision.

SELECTED PROJECTS

Real-time Audio Processor. Designed algorithms and implemented pitch-shifting, tuning-frequency analysis, and dynamic range compression for high-fidelity embedded applications.
FPGA-based DAC. Designed and managed development of a proprietary digital-to-analog conversion algorithm implemented on an FPGA, achieving high efficiency, sound quality, and independence from off-the-shelf DAC chips.