Triphop's Universe

A pioneering voice for "simplicity" in the digital age, Maeda received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from MIT and has been teaching at MIT since 1996. He has also served as the E. Rudge and Nancy Allen Professor of Media Arts and Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in design from Tsukuba University Institute of Art and Design in Japan, and received his M.B.A. from Arizona State University.

Maeda pioneered the use of the computer for people of all ages and skills to create art. His early work redefined the use of electronic media as a tool for expression by combining skilled computer programming with a sensitivity to traditional artistic concerns. This work helped to pioneer the interactive motion graphics that are prevalent on the Internet today. He also initiated the Design By Numbers project, a global initiative to teach computer programming to visual artists through a freely available, custom software system that he designed.