contact: odonnell.drew@gmail.com
About
Hi! My name is Drew O'Donnell, and I’m a Seattle-based puzzle, game, and immersive experience designer. For most of my projects, I also build out the experience, whether that’s woodworking, electronics, video editing, and/or prop making. I’ve collaborated with both individuals and local businesses, and am always excited to brainstorm something new!
Past Events
The Key To Your Heart (2025)
In this Valentine's Day "puzzle box" experience, pairs of participants had 45 minutes to solve love-themed puzzles, which ultimately unlocked a chocolatey reward from Seattle Chocolate Company. Up to 9 pairs worked on their own copy of the puzzle box simultaneously!
The Snake Pit (2024)
Inspired by CBS’ Survivor, this 3-day lakehouse experience pitted 16 contestants against each other in physical, mental, and social challenges. While players were eliminated along the way, the event was structured such that they could still compete in challenges–they were just only eligible to win rewards. The challenges featured reality show classics as well as original designs and game twists!
Haunted Factory: The Chocowalkers (2023), The Dark Disciples (2024)
Each year, Seattle Chocolate Company hosts a Haunted Factory Tour, where 3,000 guests venture through a dark factory and encounter actors and activities along the way. In 2023, the premise was that the power in the factory had gone out, and the chocolate- and light-deprived workers had turned into the Chocowalkers–essentially zombies who wanted chocolate instead of brains. Highlights included a sea of glowing red eyes in the dark, and a “chocobattery” that powered up each station!
In 2024, Seattle Chocolate Company was taken over by the Dark Disciples, a cult attempting to cast an arcane ritual to turn all the chocolate in the world into dark chocolate. Guests were initiated into the group so that they could take it down from within. Highlights included pulsing purple runes, a summoning circle, and occult iconography.
The Cold Spikey (2024)
Camp Korey is a camp for children with life-altering medical conditions. I’ve volunteered with them since 2018, and in 2024 I was thrilled to make a pop-up escape room for their Teen Retreat. In it, the ‘Warm Fuzzies’ mascots were captured by the Cold Spikey, a Warm Fuzzy gone cold. The puzzles were inspired by camp songs and traditions.