Mathias Paumgarten
Mathias is a creative developer, currently pushing pixels at B-Reel. Generative art and creative coding
Mathias is a creative developer from Austria. He is currently living and working in Santa Monica, California. Starting with a background in Flash development, Mathias found his passion for code-driven animation at a very young age. Over the years while working for and at several agencies he has broadened his skill set by leaving the web platform and working on installations using low-level languages such as C/C++.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg, Austria, he decided to leave Austria while focusing on modern web technologies such as HTML5 and JavaScript, currently working as a front-end JavaScript developer.
Mathias has worked for several renowned agencies such as B-Reel, Soap Creative, Firstborn working on projects for Sony, Fox Entertainment, Pepsi Co., and many more.
After receiving recognitions such as Awwward, FWA and other awards, Mathias also contributed to publications such as HTML5 Games Most Wanted.
10 questions for Mathias Paumgarten:
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What did you do before becoming a designer/developer?
Not much. I always was a developer. I had small jobs here and there but nothing significant.
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Where do you turn for inspiration?
I try to leave the virtual space. Inspiration usually hits me when I’m being physically active. Lately surfing has done the trick for me. Your brain really wonders off when you sit out there in the water by yourself. Gives you time to think and - more importantly - day dream.
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Which are your favorite studios, designers or agencies?
Wow, that is a tough one. Too many amazing places and people out there. B-Reel, Tool, Hello Monday to list a few places. When it comes to artists. I have been a huge fan of Joshua Davis for many years. Justin Windle and Hakim El Hattab have also been creating phenomenal work for years.
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Who do you side with: Team Mac or Team PC?
Im Team PC. But I have been working on a Mac for a couple months for employer reasons. So I guess I’m both now.
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Is your city a good place for designers?
There is a ton of amazing work happening here in LA. Definitely a YES on this one.
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Which technologies are you excited about?
Usually it’s not so much about the technology itself for me. It’s what you can create with it. But if I would have to pick just one I would say Arduino.
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How many hours do you work each week?
Really depends. Work hours, I would say 40 - 50. But I really try to keep it to 40 and have enough time for stuff that does not include a computer. But we all know how that is. Sometimes you just have to go that extra mile.
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Do you listen to music while you work? Describe your playlist.
I do listen to music all the time. Most of the stuff I listen to would fall into the Rock/Punkrock genre. Authority Zero, Hardcore Superstar, Johnnie Rook, Volbeat, Misconduct, Flatliners, to list a view.
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What is your favorite book?
I don’t read too much anymore but there is two (very different) books I keep suggesting to people: My Family Right or Wrong by Ephraim Kishon. He has an amazing way with words to entertain people and Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Simply an intense story.
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What is your favorite sport?
Kite surfing.
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Tell us your funniest anecdote related to your work
I got an email from a client. It was pretty late at night already and the project has been dragged out for weeks already. Client changed his mind over and over again and I was starting to get a little annoyed. So the email had some “feedback”, more like desired changes. However, that client wrote it in a way that made no sense to me. I forwarded that email to my producer saying: “I have no idea what that idiot wants now. He makes to many decisions for someone who apparently has no idea of how the internet works”. After I hit send, I realized that I hit reply instead of forward. The following meetings were a little awkward.
