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"Interface Design is an artful bridge from capability to understanding."
Phillip Reay is a second generation Designer and Artist. His design company, Metacosm Design Labs, in Seattle, Washington, provides design/build creative services making installations, events, media projects, and commercial products. Developing original designs he draws innovative ideas and off-the-shelf technology into cohesive products and end-user experiences. 
With multiple projects involving the fine arts and sciences, education, architecture, and especially software and media technology, Phillip has a long history of outstanding designs for world-class clients with one-of-a-kind projects. The primary chords in Phillip's work are design, computers, and art.
His early exposure to the world of art and design was by his father, Chip Reay, a senior designer at Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum, Architects (HOK) and student of Charles & Ray Eames. In 1977, Phillip started playing with computers, writing interactive text games and "digital experiments." Aside from high school band and some freestyle metallurgy, Phillip began his Fine Arts career in 1981, in Paris, France, apprenticing with internationally known textile artist Sheila Hicks and sculptor Daniel Graffin, assisting them in large sculptural architectural installations.
He earned a BA in Industrial Design from the University of Michigan School of Art; 
also studying Ceramics, Computer Science, Math, Art History. After school, he returned to St. Louis to work with his father at HOK Architects. Together, they created "The Living World" natural history museum at the St. Louis Zoo. After moving to Seattle in 1990, Phillip spent two years as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington Human Interface Technology Lab, studying advanced virtual environment interfaces and related human factors.
Phillip's work is about the connection between people and technology. By crafting this link, he creates access to new human abilities, experiences, and knowledge. He has worked at the intersection of Art, Design, and Technology for over 20 years, creating cutting-edge digital media tools, virtual environments, interactive museum exhibits, educational software products, websites, retail graphics and fixtures, event environments, architectural installations, original artworks, and major stage performances.
His visual performance artwork is based upon Onadime, a real-time digital effects software programming toolkit he co-authored with Geoffrey Coco. His live digital music-visual artworks and digital technology were part of the Rolling Stones "40 Licks" stage show. He has also performed his live music-visuals on stage with other artists (see below).
Phillip also creates large format prints based on his real-time digital work.
Phillip Reay / Art, Design & Technology / Project History
→ For more on Phillip's perspective, see his artist statement.
→ For more on a metacosmic view of Universe.
→ Also, see below for conference participation.
The following list includes projects by area; therefore, a particular project might be found in two or more sections. For a listing of projects in chronological order, see the projects page.
Installations & Exhibits
With Onadime, his platform for real-time digital arts, Phillip Reay has developed extensive real-time digital puppetry and animation tools. Combining live voice sync and interactive controls, fully improvised interviews with animated characters are made possible.
With Onadime, Phillip has produced many live-music visual performance elements for both classical and rock music projects.
Video & Motion Graphics
Retail Graphics
Logos & Illustrations
Human Interface is a major focus of Metacosm's work, deployed as Virtual Environments, museum installations, or software products, the Graphic User Interface, or GUI, is where the user "touches" information. Breakthroughs in real-time media technologies deliver new human understanding and ability. Ultimately, Metacosm designs new modes of human experience and access to these tools. Project by project, each application is a unique expression of creative forces.
Web Sites
Virtual Environments
Software Products
Interactive Games
Product Design
Packaging
Patenting
Production
Conferences, Presentations & Awards
SIGGRAPH2004 Special Session
"Puppetry and Computer Graphics"
Los Angeles Convention Center
August 10, 2004
A roundtable discussion about the evolution of digital puppets as characters in movies and video.
Panel Participants
Gonzo (Dave Goelz)
Audrey II & Max (Bruce Lanoil & David Barclay)
Bugs Bunny (Phillip Reay)
→ More conference images.
Pro Production 2002
"Technology Crystal Ball" Panel
San Diego Convention Center
January 8-11, 2002
A roundtable discussion about the evolution of digital media technology in regards to lighting and show control for live stage and studio performances.
→ Event hosted by Projection Lights and Staging News.
→ The last Pro Production 2005.
ICMC '97 (International Computer Music Conference)
Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
September 25-30, 1997
"FREE TIME Dynamic Multimedia Explorer" (This project grew into Onadime)
with Bruce Mitchell, Geoff Coco, Andy Schloss, & Michael Lee. Paradigm Learning Systems and the Frontiers of Perception Institute. Phillip Reay: Exhibits Designer, Software Developer and Program Presenter.
This interactive musical installation allowed visitors to explore a variety of real-time music and visual instruments based on several different sensors, such as the midi radio drum, trackballs, and a 3D spatially-tracked ball. Each sensor contributed as an instrument to an ensemble, allowing multiple people to interact musically. Over 300 local Greek school children were toured through the work.
"Multimedia Education" (New Multimedia Technologies and Children)
Satellite meeting of ICMC '97
September 27-29, 1997
"FREE TIME" is a computer mediated interactive environment, designed to merge creativity and learning in children's minds. Children choose instruments made of sensors, and using these instruments, they play with music and light. In playing, they can gain capacity to change the environment as they see fit. Multiple presentations of FREE TIME were made.
Awards
PRINT Casebooks 9: The Best in Exhibition Design 1991-1992
The Living World at the Saint Louis Zoo
Lightolier, national lighting design competition,
Third Place for Office Lighting Design, 1985
John Burroughs Day School, Light & Sound tech for multiple full-scale stage productions
National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist, 1980
WGHS Band, Baritone Horn, First Chair, Walter Latham, Conductor, 1977
Computer Club, Avid BASIC programmer, 1977
wrote a MUD on a DEC pdp 1170 rsts/e (with paper tape for backup memory)
Oh1Ø New Media Center / with Rod Hatfield & Coactive Media
Onadime, Inc. / with Bruce Mitchell and Geoffrey Coco
Metacosm Design Labs / Director
WorlDesign / Principal Designer
Human Interface Technology Lab at UW / Visiting Scholar
HOK Architects / Exhibit, Retail & Graphics Designer
HOK Architects / Summer Intern
Daniel Graffin Atelier / Installation Assistant Manager
Sheila Hicks Atelier / Installation Apprentice