The World of Mike Matas - March 08, 2004
Perhaps the name Mike Matas is not instantly familiar, but you have no doubt seen his works. Mike's work as an icon and user interface designer has resulted in the Watson icon, interface design for much of The Omni Group's software, and even an appearance on TechTV's The Screen Savers. This impressive resumé is made even more so by the fact that Mike is only 17 years old (he started working at the OmniGroup at age 15). While Mike lives right across a lake from Microsoft headquarters, it is quickly becoming apparent that his name will become well known among Mac users in the future. In this Insider edition, we talk about his career, what he thinks of the Mac OS X interface, and what he plans to do after leaving the OmniGroup.
MT: This is a question I like to start with. What got you started in this career of graphic design?
It has really been a gradual process. When I was in 8th grade I started interning at 911 Media Arts Center, a non-profit video production recourse in Seattle. They rent out digital video cameras, lights, screening rooms, and editing systems. I started helping with video editing, cutting down video pieces for small documentaries, and public service announcements. This was the first time I had really done serious creative work on a computer since KidPix and HyperCard back in elementary school.
MT: Obviously you are very much in love with your Mac. Why Mac?
The Mac is on a whole other level than any other platform. Apple ends up having to compete with their own products since they hold themselves to much higher standards than the rest of the industry. This translates into more and more creative products each year. There is no other computer company I know of that does this so well.
MT: Unlike on Windows, the Mac shareware market is very healthy. Are there any gems that you would like to share with the readers?
LaunchBar
Watson
SubEthaEdit
MenuTunes
OmniGraffle
Simon Extreme
MorphX
iStopMotion
MT: You are best known for your icon design, but your occupation is an "interface designer." What other kinds of things fall into this category?
I would call it more user experience design. It starts with creating the flow of an application – how you will get things done in an application. That is the more general part of it. Just getting an overview of how the application will work and what kinds of interface metaphors will be used. Then you have to figure out how to place the widgets in the interface so the application is simple and straightforward but still has lots of functionality. The hardest part of this is figuring how how cram the most functionality in the least amount of UI. Finally it involves designing icons that will bring an application to life and make it beautiful.
MT: So in other words, you do a lot more than create icons at the end of a project.
Right. Icons are sweet sweet icing on the cake.
MT: You used to work at The Omni Group, which creates quality Mac OS X software as well as porting computer games. What was it like working at one of the best known OS X software companies?
I learned a lot. It was really fun working with so many talented programmers, most of which have been around since the birth of Cocoa. I grew a ton and learned a lot in my two years working there.
MT: Two years working at a top Mac software company, and you're only 17?
Yes, it was pretty fun. Unfortunately as the company has grown larger over the past year it's fun spirit and creativity that I once loved has started to fade away. I really hope they realize and fix this before it is too late.
MT: You are one of the premier interface designers for OS X software and still a teenager. What do you see yourself doing five years down the line?
Designing software.
MT: You call yourself an interface designer. Have you ever thought about redesigning the entire OS X user interface by making a theme?
I have thought about it but just have not had the time to sit down and put it all together.
MT: And now we have the MacThemes mockup contest, which you plan to enter.
Yes, it seems really cool. I am interested in designing a theme but not putting it together into a working product. I just wanted to have a little fun and have the chance see my ideas turned into reality.
MT: Taking a look at the OS X GUI, from the point of view of an interface consultant, what needs improvement?
Apple just needs to continue to simplify the UI. I think it is going to become more flat and less shaded. Apple needs to save texture and depth for application content and more top level things like windows and the dock.
MT: Recently, Apple has implemented Quartz Extreme, which in simple terms places Aqua windows as textures on 3D objects to use hardware acceleration to aid visual effects. In addition, drop shadows, gel capsules and zoom effects have turned what was once a very flat interface into something pushing into 3D. Do you think true 3D is the future of software interfaces?
I do not think true 3D is where we will end up. When you are typing a paper or drawing a picture you really want the document to be flat on your screen. Working with a document straight on just makes sense. This is how you work in real life. When you are writing a paper you look at the paper straight on. That is what is just natural. However, I think 3D is going to start playing a much larger roll strengthening and creating new basic 2D metaphors on computers. We are already starting to see this with things like the "cube transition" Apple is using for fast user switching under Panther. By using this simple 3D effect you instantly understand what switching users is. It is just like your computer screen is a cube with users running on each face. You just spin the cube to the user you want.
I also think 3D is going to be used to enhance the look of 2D interfaces. You could do things like have the shadows on windows change depending on how many windows are behind it. The shadow would be more blurred and offset on surfaces that were "lower" in the window stack just like in real life. You could also have it so when you started dragging an object it grew and cast a shadow as if you had picked it up. The idea is keeping the UI looking 2D but feeling 3D.
MT: It's true that many applications make more sense in 2D, such as document editors among others. What about the Finder? Is the desktop metaphor passé, or does it still make sense?
The Finder needs to move to meta data based organization, focusing less on file location and more on file content. The problem with location based organization is it completely relies on you caring enough to put things in folders and clean up after your self. The majority of people just want to get on there computer, get something done and get off. They do not want to spend time organizing files into massive folder hierarchies and cleaning up after applications. They just want to get work done. The people that keep their real life desktop spotless are the same people that leave their Mac desktop completely trashed. They can turn off a computer and not need to deal with a messy desktop, this is not true for a real desk.
If you do not care enough to organize your files, something that is completely understandable, you are pretty much screwed in the current finder. In a meta data base finder location would be oblivious. Apple is already doing this with iTunes and iPhoto. When browsing music in iTunes you do not have any sense where a song is located on your hard drive. All you care about is the information that describes the song you are looking for. Things like the artist, genera, song length, and your rating. This same concept can be applied almost directly to the Finder.
I think Apple knows this and we will be seeing this from them in the next revision of OS X.
MT: What about other gimmicks that never really happened, such as voice control? Touch screens? Do you believe these technologies to be things that have yet to become popular, or dead ends?
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Comments
Posted by Xanthic at March 8, 2004 05:39 PM | Edit | Delete
great interview, and nice work mike. i always wondered who made those nice omniweb icons, and now i know. :)
Posted by jolivierld at March 8, 2004 06:11 PM | Edit | Delete
Good luck to you!
Posted by Chris McElligott at March 8, 2004 06:38 PM | Edit | Delete
Amazing, I just watched the video on TechTVs website, you are an amazing designer. It'll be interesting to see what software the new company will be pushing out.
Posted by serum.157 at March 8, 2004 06:50 PM | Edit | Delete
awesome interview but i'm wondering if the rumor is true about you got fired from omnigroup? if true, can you explain why? thanks.
Posted by at March 8, 2004 07:06 PM | Edit | Delete
Just to note: the Sidekick should feel like something Apple designed... it was designed by the Woz!
Posted by Danny Cohen at March 8, 2004 09:17 PM | Edit | Delete
Great Insider, my favorite yet. I love reading about how he is making icons using 3d programs, but I would like to know also how he did it before he was just using 3d. Was he just using perspective and doing shadows by hand? I am excited about the software coming... oh boy!
Posted by smeger at March 9, 2004 12:44 AM | Edit | Delete
Cool insider! I've been hearing about this guy for awhile but didn't know much about him. Very groovy to find out more. Thanks!
Posted by Trygve Inda at March 9, 2004 06:33 AM | Edit | Delete
Mike did the icon for EarthDesk (http://www.timepalette.com) and many user have commented on the quality of it. Thanks Mike!!
Posted by tonton at March 9, 2004 06:50 AM | Edit | Delete
Hey, Mike, please remember us over at AI and drop in every once in a while.
Posted by Christopher Fox at March 9, 2004 09:55 AM | Edit | Delete
This is clearly one very bright guy.
My best wishes to you, Mike, and good luck with your new company!
Posted by Thomas at March 9, 2004 10:12 AM | Edit | Delete
WOW. He's good.
Posted by sjk at March 9, 2004 09:02 PM | Edit | Delete
I certainly hope metadata-driven content organization is available at the system level (ala BeOS/BFS) in the not-too-distant future so *any* application is capable of using it, not just per-application solutions like iTunes and iPhoto. Thanks for your comments about that, Mike.
Posted by Ernest Liu at March 10, 2004 02:28 AM | Edit | Delete
Mike Matas is inspiration for me, since I'm also a teenager =D
Posted by Kevin Rismiller at March 10, 2004 07:11 AM | Edit | Delete
Wow! You know I've always felt like an under achiever. Now I feel even worse. At 30 years old, I shouild at least be in the position Mike is in now. This is very inspiring, it seems odd to learn some life lessons from someone almost half my age, but I have!!! Thanks Mike!!!
Posted by 3nzo at March 10, 2004 11:11 PM | Edit | Delete
Does anybody know if Mike Matas' method of making icons in IconComposer allows you to make icons in any other format than .icns?
Posted by Phillip Ryu at March 11, 2004 03:34 PM | Edit | Delete
I don't think so 3nzo :\
Posted by Alexander Strange at March 16, 2004 11:53 PM | Edit | Delete
Oh, and thanks for recommending MenuTunes.
Posted by Danny Cohen at March 27, 2004 01:49 PM | Edit | Delete
Part of his appeal is that he is a teenager, but he is also creating these incredibly high quality icons. On his web site, he does not mention his age on the front page. Sometimes his age is a bigger story than his icons. I think that the age does not matter, only the work.
I mean, everybody has different skills and the age does not make that much of a difference. It is how he handles himself with clients and what he produces. I think that any kid with skills trying to find work may have a hard time finding someone to give him a chance. So, good for Mike that he kept at it.
Posted by devboy at March 31, 2004 02:25 AM | Edit | Delete
Mike might be a little over priced, Adam Betts offers better prices for icons.
Posted by Mark Jaeger at April 3, 2004 02:07 PM | Edit | Delete
Nice job, Mike, Say hi to your Mom and Dad for me. If you are in my neighborhood, stop by and say hi.
Mark Jaeger
Posted by iStatic at April 6, 2004 11:42 AM | Edit | Delete
man you realy rock :D, i like your work, i'm a designer as well, but a biginer, i would like to work in a company like that. Yeah you're right, windows sucks, i don't have a mac,but i'm emulating it on my xp :)
Posted by Gee golly at April 24, 2004 03:51 PM | Edit | Delete
I hate it when people spam comments on websites. Travel info? bleah.
Good job Mike, hope to see the new Delicious Monster stuff go well for you.
Posted by tenderpants at July 12, 2004 05:46 PM | Edit | Delete
I honestly can't tell the difference between Mike's icons and about 100 other icon "artists". It all looks the same.
Average stuff from an average kid. I think omni just used him because they most likely didn't have to pay him as much as they would a pro.
Posted by outsider at February 4, 2006 10:59 AM | Edit | Delete
po