Each week we chat about the tools of the trade with one outstanding creative to find out exactly how they do what they do. The questions are always the same, the answers, not so much. This week: Reza Ali.Who are you and what do you do?
Reza Ali: I am a 25-year-old computational designer/creative technologist/multi-faceted hybrid engineer who grew up in Miami, studied Engineering and Electronic Arts in upstate New York, spent sometime in New York City interning at a “corporate job”, moved to Santa Barbara to study Media Arts and Technology, then moved to Los Angeles for my first “real job” as researcher. I recently left my full-time job and I now live in the Bay Area. I've always been interested in the arts and technology. As a teenager I would spend my time sketching graffiti, taking photos, watching lectures on MIT's OpenCourseWare, and making things with electronics.I do various things, I spend most of my time designing and writing algorithms for visuals, working on interactive installations and visualizations, thinking about the world's problems, reading up on technology, and experimenting with code and electronics. Recently, I became co-founder of a startup and will be spending most of my time there innovating in the area of user experience in the realm of social media.What hardware do you use?
For visual design and coding I use a 17" Macbook Pro. The screen space is very freeing. I also have a windows desktop, which I primarily use for capturing video from my mac. I have an iPhone 4S and iPad 2 for prototyping mobile and tablet based experiences.What software do you use?
I use and create a variety of software for making things. Most of the time I write the applications I use to make art from scratch on top of a creative coding framework. Here is a list of the software I use (ordered from most frequently): Xcode, Processing, Sublime Text 2, Chrome, Arduino, Live, Max, Maya. For creative coding (ordered from most used), I use openFrameworks, Processing, Javascript, and Python. I have heard great things about Cinder, but haven't had the time or opportunity to do a project in that framework yet.Generative Typography Experiment #2If money were no object, how would you change your current setup?
I would get a laser cutter, 3D printer, CNC machine, electronics fabrication lab, machine shop, massive LED screens, a couple Mac Pros, projectors, a 32 channel sound system, and a team of coders, designers, and makers. I would essentially create a creative technology lab, similar to the MIT Media Lab, UVA, Rockwell Group, LEDARTIST, rAndom International, Google Creative Lab, or Scott Snibbe Studio, where I could carry out my ideas quickly and efficiently with a diverse team of creative individuals.What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
A 3D printer that could print me a full operational iPhone or similar electronic device with very fine tolerances. We then could prototype technology like we do software and really change the innovation rate of technology.Is there any piece of technology that inspired you to take the path you did?
Processing, without it I would have never learned how to code, nor would I have cared to. It was my stepping stone to coding, making software and evolving as a digital designer.What’s your favourite relic piece of technology from your childhood?
Lite-Brite because it allowed me to paint with pixels.
Reza Ali: I am a 25-year-old computational designer/creative technologist/multi-faceted hybrid engineer who grew up in Miami, studied Engineering and Electronic Arts in upstate New York, spent sometime in New York City interning at a “corporate job”, moved to Santa Barbara to study Media Arts and Technology, then moved to Los Angeles for my first “real job” as researcher. I recently left my full-time job and I now live in the Bay Area. I've always been interested in the arts and technology. As a teenager I would spend my time sketching graffiti, taking photos, watching lectures on MIT's OpenCourseWare, and making things with electronics.
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For visual design and coding I use a 17" Macbook Pro. The screen space is very freeing. I also have a windows desktop, which I primarily use for capturing video from my mac. I have an iPhone 4S and iPad 2 for prototyping mobile and tablet based experiences.What software do you use?
I use and create a variety of software for making things. Most of the time I write the applications I use to make art from scratch on top of a creative coding framework. Here is a list of the software I use (ordered from most frequently): Xcode, Processing, Sublime Text 2, Chrome, Arduino, Live, Max, Maya. For creative coding (ordered from most used), I use openFrameworks, Processing, Javascript, and Python. I have heard great things about Cinder, but haven't had the time or opportunity to do a project in that framework yet.Generative Typography Experiment #2If money were no object, how would you change your current setup?
I would get a laser cutter, 3D printer, CNC machine, electronics fabrication lab, machine shop, massive LED screens, a couple Mac Pros, projectors, a 32 channel sound system, and a team of coders, designers, and makers. I would essentially create a creative technology lab, similar to the MIT Media Lab, UVA, Rockwell Group, LEDARTIST, rAndom International, Google Creative Lab, or Scott Snibbe Studio, where I could carry out my ideas quickly and efficiently with a diverse team of creative individuals.What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
A 3D printer that could print me a full operational iPhone or similar electronic device with very fine tolerances. We then could prototype technology like we do software and really change the innovation rate of technology.Is there any piece of technology that inspired you to take the path you did?
Processing, without it I would have never learned how to code, nor would I have cared to. It was my stepping stone to coding, making software and evolving as a digital designer.What’s your favourite relic piece of technology from your childhood?
Lite-Brite because it allowed me to paint with pixels.