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: Henry Chu.Who are you and what do you do?
I am Henry Chu, a Hong Kong-based web designer and new media artist. I was born in Hong Kong and finished my Engineering degree in New Zealand. My first job was as a programmer of a stock market settlement system. Then I worked at a startup company as a web developer, but the website was never launched. In 2000 I joined the web agency AGENDA. I started as a designer and left the company as an interactive producer in 2004. In the same year, I started pill & pillow, my design studio. Our works are mostly interactive websites; we love minimal design, innovative navigation, and custom-made effects for story telling. Last year I started to create iPhone and iPad apps and one of them was selected for Talk to Me, an exhibition currently on view at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. I wanted to become a game designer when I was little and learned programming on my own. Now I use mostly ActionScript, C++, Processing, Javascript and PHP.What kind of hardware to you use?
A 24’’ iMac in the office, an older 20’’ iMac at home, a 13’’ MacBook Air, an iPhone 4 for my daily use and for testing, an iPad, an iPad2, and some old iPhones for more testing.What kind of software do you use?
Firework CS3, Flash CS3, Flash CS4, Espresso (my recent favorite), Xcode, Processing, OpenFrameworks, Safari, Audacity, WebKut, FFMpeg, Mail, Keynote, iPhoto, iMovie, iDeveloper – Icon Generator.What piece of equipment can you simply not live without?
My glasses, I can hardly see without them.If money were no object, how would you change your current set up?
There are a few things I want to try: a 3D object printer, a programmable robotic arm, a huge projection wall with multiple projectors, a hardware team to build physical objects, so that I can extend screen-based simulations into reality.Musical app: SquiggleSqueal / Singing Face Digital Hug EditionIs there any piece of technology that inspired you to take the path you did?
Flash—web based motions generated by logics. My design was influenced by Tomato, Yugo Nakamura, Michael Cina and Michael Paul Young.What is your favorite piece of technology from your childhood?
Lego. I built many things since I was little, like Voltron and Optimus Prime.What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
A device to neutralize gravity will be very cool.Image Courtesy of Henry Chu
I am Henry Chu, a Hong Kong-based web designer and new media artist. I was born in Hong Kong and finished my Engineering degree in New Zealand. My first job was as a programmer of a stock market settlement system. Then I worked at a startup company as a web developer, but the website was never launched. In 2000 I joined the web agency AGENDA. I started as a designer and left the company as an interactive producer in 2004. In the same year, I started pill & pillow, my design studio. Our works are mostly interactive websites; we love minimal design, innovative navigation, and custom-made effects for story telling. Last year I started to create iPhone and iPad apps and one of them was selected for Talk to Me, an exhibition currently on view at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. I wanted to become a game designer when I was little and learned programming on my own. Now I use mostly ActionScript, C++, Processing, Javascript and PHP.
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A 24’’ iMac in the office, an older 20’’ iMac at home, a 13’’ MacBook Air, an iPhone 4 for my daily use and for testing, an iPad, an iPad2, and some old iPhones for more testing.What kind of software do you use?
Firework CS3, Flash CS3, Flash CS4, Espresso (my recent favorite), Xcode, Processing, OpenFrameworks, Safari, Audacity, WebKut, FFMpeg, Mail, Keynote, iPhoto, iMovie, iDeveloper – Icon Generator.What piece of equipment can you simply not live without?
My glasses, I can hardly see without them.If money were no object, how would you change your current set up?
There are a few things I want to try: a 3D object printer, a programmable robotic arm, a huge projection wall with multiple projectors, a hardware team to build physical objects, so that I can extend screen-based simulations into reality.Musical app: SquiggleSqueal / Singing Face Digital Hug EditionIs there any piece of technology that inspired you to take the path you did?
Flash—web based motions generated by logics. My design was influenced by Tomato, Yugo Nakamura, Michael Cina and Michael Paul Young.What is your favorite piece of technology from your childhood?
Lego. I built many things since I was little, like Voltron and Optimus Prime.What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
A device to neutralize gravity will be very cool.Image Courtesy of Henry Chu