Microsoft Windows XP

Developed under the code name Whistler the long awaited new release of the Windows Operation System has been released under the name Windows XP. Illustrate! was used extensively for the creation of the icons and other interface elements in this latest release.

Rom Impas, a member of Microsoft's Product Design Team, was given the mandate to entirely redesign the visual appearance of Windows. A very large undertaking by any standard. He was available to comment on his contribution to this auspicous project.

What was your involvement in the Windows XP development?

Rom Impas noted. "I was personally responsible for the design and production of icons, toolbars, animations, and other miscallenous graphics plus contributing to the user interface design of specific components of the system."

"For the production phase, I managed three contract designers and an external company, IconFactory, to create and produce these visual elements."

Tell us a little more about your artistic background?

"I've been drawing since I was a kid and I have a Product Design degree from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA where I also learned to use 3D applications like Alias. I also paint and have used oil, acrylic, gouache and watercolor. I've a used a multitude of 3D apps (you name it) before settling with 3D Studio Max which I've used for three years."

How was Illustrate! used?

"I used Illustrate! to design the new icons for Windows XP. And the icon designs I created was then used by IconFactory to create and produce the majority of icons for the new OS. I also used Illustrate! to produce several icons and miscallenous graphics that are shipping in Windows XP."

There are many design tools currently available to artists, why did Microsoft choose Illustrate! for their design needs?

"I choose Illustrate because of the flexibility of it's rendering, specifically the ability to mix renderers and also the awesome control over the line weights of an object. Plus it can also output vectors which came in very handy."

Rom Impas can be reached via email at rimpas@uswest.net