TAKASHI OKAMOTO
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
MEDIA LABORATORY
E15-301 20 AMES STREET
CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
(617) 301-0386

* Table of Contents *

* About *

Mudtallica
I completed my two year masters research in Prof. John Maeda's Physical Language Workshop at the MIT Media Lab in June 2008. My main interest is to produce work combining graphic design and technology. I enjoy designing and programming. I try to do both at the same time. Before coming to the lab, I worked as a graphic designer in New York, and received my MFA in graphic design from Yale University. Through my undergraduate education, I received an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto in astrophysics. I ran a design studio with my group mate from the PLW Kyle Buza, called BuzaMoto from 2008 to 2013. Currently, I am a Designer + Programmer at W+K Garage.

* Education *

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* Projects *

E15 (Link)
2007 - 2008
E15 is an ongoing group project in the Physical Language Workshop. It is a three-dimensional OpenGL-based web environment, enabling new interactions with web content beyond the traditional browser.
E15:FB (Video|Paper)
2007 - 2008
E15:FB is a visualization application which shows a graphical representation of social interactions with individual Facebook users. The application also provides alternative methods to navigate Facebook content beyond what is provided through the Facebook website, and creates new opportunities to interact with related content outside of Facebook.
FakeID (Video)
2007
FakeID is an OpenID server that gives you control over your online identity. With your existing OpenID account, you can use FakeID to create unique online identities. With every new FakeID you create, you obtain a new OpenID URL that you can use for any OpenID enabled site.
GPC (Paper)
2007
GPC (Graphical Pen-based CAPTCHA) is a CAPTCHA system that uses drawing capabilities of a human. Line segmentation is implemented with JavaScript, while the stroke and raster recognizers are written in Ruby.
MadLicense (Video)
2006
MadLicense is a Mad Libs-style license creator. Users are given a license template based on popular open source licenses with specific words that are modifiable. In a way, it makes license creation easy, but also challenging since only certain words are modifiable. With this restriction, it forces users to creatively place words to come up with an applicable license for themselves.
MITPTyper (Link)
2007
MITPTyper turns any phrase you type into the text box as Muriel Cooper’s MIT Press logo.
Modster (Link)
2007
Modster is a web-based graphical exquisite corpse game. A player begins by drawing a head, then additional players contribute the torso and leg components with viewing just the bottom 40px of the previous section. Once the corpse is completed, it becomes visible on the site. The corpse can also be downloaded as a PDF file. The drawing is based on MudSketch.
MudSketch (Link)
2007
MudSketch is a simple client side drawing program written in JavaScript. Drawings can be saved and loaded, and exported to PNG and PDF.
OpenCode (Video)
2006
OpenCode is a web-based graphics programming environment that leverages the user community to foster creative development. The environment allows users to write, share and compile code all within a web browser; eliminating the need to download any software.
OpenLocker (Video)
2006 - 2007
OpenLocker is a multi-functional web application that serves as an OpenID server, and a personal homepage. As an OpenID server, OpenLocker differs from other OpenID authentication servers and attempts to preserve user privacy by using a locker metaphor.
PLWire (Video)
2006 - 2008
PLWire is the group website for the Physical Language Workshop at the MIT Media Lab.
RunLog (Link)
2007
RunLog keeps track of how much you run. For frequent runners, RunLog can be a useful tool to keep track of running goals. But RunLog was built to motivate people who spend most of their day working in front of a computer. Many people start running, but not consistently. RunLog tries to use the social network as a peer pressure system to promote a consistent running schedule.
RunLogger (Link)
2007
RunLogger is a Facebook version of RunLog.
WYSIWiki (Link)
2006
WYSIWiki is a WYSIWYG wiki system that eliminates the need to write confusing wiki syntax.
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* Experience *

BuzaMoto (Link)
2008 - present
My new design studio, in collaboration with Kyle Buza.
Research Assistant
2006 - 2008
MIT Media Lab
Physical Language Workshop
Advisor: John Maeda
Teaching Assistant
2004, 2006
MAS 110: Fundamentals of Computational Media Design
Prof. John Maeda (MIT, Fall 2006)
GD 742b: Introduction to Computational Form
Lect. Christopher Edwards (Yale, Spring 2004)
MudCorp (Link)
2004 - 2006
My studio, specializing in projects involving design and technology. You can view projects on the corporate site.
2x4, Inc.(Link)
2004 - 2005
Graphic design, story boarding, web development and programming.
Illustrator (Link)
1999 - 2006
Illustrations for newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, National Post, Shift Magazine, Saturday Night Magazine and The Walrus.
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* Awards / Publications / Talks *

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* Miscellaneous *

Skills
I can list a bunch of programming languages I program (and programmed) in, but that's just dumb. Instead, I'm going to list what I like and prefer. I love Ruby, hate Python...but lately I write more Python. I'm sticking with Rails, because Erlyweb and Erlang is just too confusing and writing PHP makes my fingers hurt. I enjoy Objective-C and Cocoa, because you get so much for free and is a nice departure from all this web nonsense. Beyond programming, I think of myself as a decent designer. I would list all the applications I can use, but seriously, telling anyone you know how to use Adobe software is like saying you can ride a bicycle with training wheels, right? I'll at least say I prefer LaTeX over InDesign although InDesign does have OTF support that is mighty tasty. Finally, I drink lots of beer, but I run a lot to burn off that belly.
PLW Skull
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