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: Steve Lawler.The Creators Project: Who are you and what do you do?
Steve Lawler: I’m Steve Lawler, member of multi-disciplinary design studio Kult3D. I’m based in Singapore and am enjoying the rapid growth of creative technology. I create artistic installations for institutions and brands, as well as a series of self-initiated projects aimed at the public. We have a self-published magazine called Kult, which is a quarterly magazine freely distributed at cafes, shops, etc., with highly experimental digital editions that explore new forms of publishing.What kind of hardware do you use?
We generally use Macs and projectors, but we also build kiosks and units in which to house technology. For example we refitted some retro arcade machines with Macs as a publishing platform for our magazine. We also recently borrowed an old UBIQ sensor to convert a shop window into a huge interactive play space.What kind of software do you use?
Apart from the obvious, like Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects, we tend to program in Adobe Flash and a bit of Processing. Recently, we’ve been experimenting with WebGL and HTML.What piece of equipment can you simply not live without?
I like to think we are not totally reliant on technology, and can create experiences using analogue techniques, but it would be insane to think we could do what we do without the use of a computer or some simple input/output devices.If money were no object, how would you change your current set up?
Set up a non-traditional training school for New Media by recruiting established artists to train [students] and research new artforms. Together with some coders, the artists would form a research unit and [undergo] monthly projects to explore new methods of publishing our magazine content. The facility would work in the same way as Red Bull Music Academy. Ideally we could rent a showroom to test the installations on the public.Is there any piece of technology that inspired you to take the path you did?
I was truly inspired by the early experiments made in Director and Flash, by people like Romandson, Tomato, Daniel Brown, the likes of Turux, Yugop, etc. I was lucky enough to attend a John Maeda workshop during my time in Fabrica, and that was a great inspiration and demonstration of how to create beauty from nothing but code.What is your favorite piece of technology from your childhood?
The remote control for the TV, video games and LEGO. I loved the old dot matrix printers too.What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
Tricky question. I would like a paint or resin that could become an LCD screen when applied to any surface. Perhaps some less expensive versions of existing technology like 3D printers and bendy screens. There is a lot of stuff out there, but unavailable to beginners.
Steve Lawler: I’m Steve Lawler, member of multi-disciplinary design studio Kult3D. I’m based in Singapore and am enjoying the rapid growth of creative technology. I create artistic installations for institutions and brands, as well as a series of self-initiated projects aimed at the public. We have a self-published magazine called Kult, which is a quarterly magazine freely distributed at cafes, shops, etc., with highly experimental digital editions that explore new forms of publishing.
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We generally use Macs and projectors, but we also build kiosks and units in which to house technology. For example we refitted some retro arcade machines with Macs as a publishing platform for our magazine. We also recently borrowed an old UBIQ sensor to convert a shop window into a huge interactive play space.What kind of software do you use?
Apart from the obvious, like Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects, we tend to program in Adobe Flash and a bit of Processing. Recently, we’ve been experimenting with WebGL and HTML.What piece of equipment can you simply not live without?
I like to think we are not totally reliant on technology, and can create experiences using analogue techniques, but it would be insane to think we could do what we do without the use of a computer or some simple input/output devices.If money were no object, how would you change your current set up?
Set up a non-traditional training school for New Media by recruiting established artists to train [students] and research new artforms. Together with some coders, the artists would form a research unit and [undergo] monthly projects to explore new methods of publishing our magazine content. The facility would work in the same way as Red Bull Music Academy. Ideally we could rent a showroom to test the installations on the public.Is there any piece of technology that inspired you to take the path you did?
I was truly inspired by the early experiments made in Director and Flash, by people like Romandson, Tomato, Daniel Brown, the likes of Turux, Yugop, etc. I was lucky enough to attend a John Maeda workshop during my time in Fabrica, and that was a great inspiration and demonstration of how to create beauty from nothing but code.What is your favorite piece of technology from your childhood?
The remote control for the TV, video games and LEGO. I loved the old dot matrix printers too.What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
Tricky question. I would like a paint or resin that could become an LCD screen when applied to any surface. Perhaps some less expensive versions of existing technology like 3D printers and bendy screens. There is a lot of stuff out there, but unavailable to beginners.