Margaret Lu
Lynnwood, WA | (425) 475-7788 | margaret.xb.lu@gmail.com
Technical Skills
Tools: Reaper, Pro Tools, Wwise, Perforce, Unreal 5, Unity, Microsoft Office Suite, EA Proprietary Software
Platforms: macOS, Windows 11
Techniques: Field Audio Recording, Foley Recording & Editing, SFX Creation & Editing, Dialogue Recording & Mixing, ADR Recording
Soft Skills
Mentored and guided early-career sound designers, fostering growth and development through knowledge sharing and hands-on support.
Recognized for strong communication skills, effective at conveying complex ideas and collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
Professional Experience
Sound Designer | Humanoid Origin Studio
Full-Time, Remote | Jan 2024 – Present
Crafted immersive audio environments for a fully realized game level in an unannounced triple-A sci-fi project, blending atmosphere with player-driven action. This encompassed designing and implementing audio for interactable objects and level events, such as custom doors, elevators, and environmental triggers.
Redesigned the door system into a versatile modular framework, enabling seamless customization and enhanced efficiency across various gameplay scenarios
Designed and implemented cutting-edge sound effects for interactive gadgets, enhancing player engagement and narrative immersion.
Collaborated closely with designers, engineers, and artists to push creative boundaries by enhancing player interactions through improved audio and visual feedback, elevating engagement and immersion. Developed more efficient audio systems that streamlined workflows, enabling faster design iterations and fostering innovation in gameplay and storytelling.
Sound Designer | Microsoft
Full-Time, Redmond Campus | July 2019 – April 2023
Created bespoke audio palettes and immersive soundscapes for high-impact projects, including entertainment experiences, enterprise tools, and cutting-edge military applications such as IVAS for the U.S. Army and HoloLens.
Spearheaded audio design and implementation for HoloLens applications, including the OceanX project in collaboration with National Geographic and James Cameron, now featured on Disney+. Led sound design for Mesh immersive meetings, encompassing UI design, interactive tool sounds, environmental audio, and avatar sound design to create a seamless, immersive experience, ensuring alignment with project milestones.
Partnered with multidisciplinary teams to refine creative feedback, elevate audio quality, and deliver polished, impactful sound design aligned with user and stakeholder expectations. Implemented and scripted audio events in Unity.
Delivered a talk at the AES (Audio Engineering Society) Society on Spatial Audio Design, sharing insights and best practices for creating immersive, three-dimensional soundscapes in modern audio production.
Sound Designer | Klei Entertainment
Contractor, Vancouver, B.C. | February 2019 – Present
Fully designed all aspects of Don’t Starve Together gameplay and character trailers, including all sound effects, immersive soundscapes, and final mix, delivering cohesive and high-quality audio story telling experiences.
Provided sound design and implementation for Oxygen Not Included assets.
Sound Designer | Microsoft (Yoh Services)
Redmond Campus | November 2017 – May 2019
Created tailored audio signatures for workflow applications.
Managed review cycles and implemented Unity-based audio scripting.
Collaborated with prominent retail and auto manufacturing brands, including L Brands, to deliver high-quality audio solutions tailored to their specific needs and project goals.
Audio Artist II | Electronic Arts (EA)
Audio Works Studio, Burnaby, B.C. | October 2015 – November 2017
FIFA 2018/2017:
Engineered dynamic and interactive commentary systems, enhancing player immersion and gameplay narrative.
Edited, implemented, and localized over 40,000 dialogue assets for cinematics, ensuring seamless integration and high-quality delivery.
Collaborated across teams to synchronize audio with animations, streamline workflows, and maintain meticulous documentation for efficient production.
Foley Recordist & Production Sound Mixer | The Sound Monkey
Vancouver, B.C. | April 2016 – Present
Recorded, edited, and synced foley for feature films and TV series, including award-winning projects such as The Blue Jet and Never Steady Never Still.
Provided on-set sound mixing and post-production sound design.
Education
Vancouver Film School – Diploma, Sound Design for Visual Media (2015)
Cleveland Institute of Music – Master of Music, Piano Performance (2012)
University of British Columbia – Bachelor of Music, Piano Major (2009)
Languages
English, Mandarin, Shanghainese
Awards & Recognition
Winner of Emily Carr University’s President’s Media Award
Best Student Production (Leo Award)
Best in Canada (Toronto International Short Film Festival)
Availability
Open to hybrid or remote positions in the US and Canada.
