FITC is a 3-day event which brings together some of the more influential programmers, designers and thinkers in digital media today. The Toronto chapter of this event has come and gone, leaving us with some new insights to toy with and the word “algorithm” ringing in our heads.
As a proud sponsor of FITC, Grip shot some great interview footage with some of this year’s speakers. While the “Big Orange Banter” sessions are being edited and prettified, we leave you with a bit of a photo essay of some of Toronto’s key presenters.
Photo 1:
At left:
Tali Krakowsky is the founder of Apologue, dedicated to the creation of immersive storytelling environments. Committed to a highly multidisciplinary and collaborative methodology, Tali has worked with clients such as the Museum of Modern Art, Frank Gehry, Airbus, IBM, the Grimaldi Forum, Victoria’s Secret and Van Cleef & Arpels. Throughout her career as Director of Experience Design at Imaginary Forces and WET Design, Tali has led the conceptual and strategic development of projects that seamlessly integrate storytelling, new media and physical environments.
At right:
Jason Theodor is a Creative Director and Speaker who specializes in creative ideation, problem-solving, and innovation for brands in the digital space. He is a creative person who loves coming up with ideas, sharing them with others (preferably for money), and teaching people how to be more creative themselves. He is addicted to the internet and new technologies, always thinking about how people (and companies) can communicate better or in interesting new ways.
Photo 2:
James White is a visual artist and designer living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. With 11 years of experience, James has worked on an array of personal art projects and with clients including Toyota, Nike, Google, VH1 Latin America, MTV, Armada Skis, Wired Magazine etc. and has been featured in Computer Arts, Computer Arts Projects and Advanced Photoshop magazines.
Photo 3:
At left:
Stacey Mulcahy is a Flex and Flash developer who once had a torrid love affair with Macromedia Director. When she’s not building rich Internet applications that even designers like, she can be found showing others how to do the same thing as a Flash instructor. She rants more than raves on her Flash-centric blog bitchwhocodes.com
At right:
Matt Rix is the creator of Trainyard, a popular iPhone game that he made in his spare time. For a week in October of 2010, Trainyard was the #2 app on the App Store. Matt graduated from the “Multimedia Design and Production” program at Humber College in 2005, and then worked at Indusblue in Toronto as a Flash Developer for five years. In January of 2011 he founded Magicule, a game development company, where he’s now focused on creating innovative mobile games.
Photo 4:
At left:
Greg Hermanovic is co-founder of Derivative and Side Effects Software, and has been meddling in 3D animation since 1974.
At right:
Steve Mason is a digital artist, designer, and programmer with over a decade of experience at ad agencies, boutique web shops, video game companies, art galleries, etc. He now works at Obscura Digital designing and implementing interactive environmental applications and installations.
Photo 5:
At left:
Robert Hodgin co-founded the Barbarian Group and is currently the Creative Director at Bloom Studio. His work ranges from simple 2D data visualizations to immersive 3D terrain simulations. His primary interests include theoretical physics, astronomy, particle engines, and audio visualizations. He works in Java, Processing, C++, Cinder, OpenGL, and GLSL and has spoken at conferences around the world, including FlashForward, FITC, Flash on the Beach, OFFF, and FlashBelt. He was also a guest lecturer at NYU’s ITP program, UCLA’s DMA program, and SCI-ARC and his work has been shown at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Wing Luke Asian Museum, McLeod Residence Gallery, Wired NextFest, San Francisco Exploratorium, GAFFTA, and the San Francisco Independent Film Festival.
At right:
Erik Natzke is an interactive designer who is constantly trying to blur the lines between design and technology. With a keen awareness for how and where to push the limits of the medium without isolating the audience, Erik is a consistent risk-taker. Crediting his success with having the willingness to fail and the stubbornness not to give up, Natzke’s work ethic has pushed the boundaries of what previously had been considered possible. Imagination, adventure, and a desire to amaze as much as entertain are all part of the driving forces behind his work.
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