Alumni Spotlight: Daniela Munoz

Co-Founder at Confetti

Classes within the Integrative Design, Arts, and Technology (IDeATe) network at Carnegie Mellon do more than train students in a specific art or technology —  they connect diverse strengths across the university to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and new ways of problem-solving. We checked in with 2024 School of Computer Science graduate Daniela Munoz, who took several IDeATe classes and worked as a Senior Technology Advisor, to see how experiences from IDeATe have helped her in her post-graduation achievements.

Q: Tell us a bit about what you’re doing with your life now that you’ve graduated. Is there a project you’re working on?

A: Right now I'm working full time at Confetti as Co-Founder and CTO. Confetti is creating fun, social experiences that are re-defining the social media landscape. Social media platforms have scaled so quickly they've detached themselves from their audiences, so there's this massive opportunity gap in creating a community that focuses on being people-first and actually being social. Everything we do revolves around fun, and how we can use emerging technologies to enhance that experience. Our latest project, Mosh, is the first-ever AI-powered social platform for music enthusiasts. We automatically generate 100% personalized posts so everything you see is specific to you and your friends — everything from stats about how much music you're listening to, roasts about your guilty pleasure genres, insights about which artists you have on repeat, and so much more.

Q: Can you share an experience from an IDeATe class at CMU that has stuck with you? Why did it make such a strong impression?

A: The most impactful experiences were, without a doubt, the showcase days. Showcase days are such cumulative experiences in that the preparation they required touched on everything we had learned throughout the course and challenged us to be able to use that new knowledge to bring our final projects to life. The final project series gives students the freedom to pursue a wide range of potential projects, which is incredible because it really allows students’ creativity to shine. To me, there's nothing more CMU than seeing students building outside-the-box. I remember one student had built a fully-functional miniature ferris wheel for shot glasses from scratch. It's truly inspiring to see people building at the intersection of utility and fun and that's a big part of the reason I ended up where I am today.

Q: How do you think IDeATe helped to prepare you for your role today? What skills from IDeATe are you using as you advance your career?

A: IDeATe helped strengthen some of my more technical building skills through the type of thinking and problem-solving it trains. I worked with a lot of 3D concepts which teach you to open your mindset to a new style of visualizing problems, but undoubtedly the biggest takeaway for me was the resilience and patience that comes with hands-on building. Learning to work with laser cutters, 3D printers, and design software, especially when you're just starting out, requires an ironic combination of commitment and flexibility. You have to really get into the weeds on each project, but inevitably, things go wrong and you're forced to pivot and iterate. IDeATe gets students so comfortable with this mindset that it becomes second nature. When things start to go wrong, I no longer find myself panicking — instead, I put my head down and get right back to work fixing things and making changes. That's been crucial while working at a startup where things are always changing, whether it's the project we're working on or the tools we're using to build it.

Q: What would you say to a student considering whether to enroll in an IDeATe class at CMU?

A: Stop overthinking it and just enroll! If you're new to the field, there's no better way to learn the skills that these classes offer. It's the perfect blend of fast-paced learning, free reign to build whatever you want, and trust to know that you've got a huge support network of professors and teammates behind you the whole time.

About Confetti: Confetti is creating social moments across the world through building fun, authentic experiences that connect Gen Z to their community. Interested in shaping the future of social with us? Send a short email introduction to daniela@useconfetti.com and we'll be in touch!