Matt McInerney II
Via peter : 07 Jan 08 : cms, design, interview, music, plugins, textpattern, txp, video
Matt McInerney is a busy young web designer, graphic designer, musician and creative. In Part 1 Matt spoke about web design.
Textpattern Questions
TXPQ When did you first use Textpattern?
MM
I think the first time I tried it was for Pixelspread. It was when I first started getting into web standards. I was looking around at what some of my favorite designers were using. I remember that both Jon Hicks and Tyson Rosage of BreakerDesign.com (and now VIRB and Purevolume) were using it. I gave it a shot and loved it.
TXPQ Have you used any other broadly similar software?
MM I've tried Wordpress, Symphony, Blogger, Drupal, Joomla, Mambo.
TXPQ How does Textpattern compare?
MM I stuck with Textpattern for a reason. Wordpress is great, but I never liked the way it divided up the layout into blocks. It made editing and creating templates more difficult than seemed necessary. Drupal, Joomla, and Mambo are great if you need power, but the problem is that for most purposes, they give you a lot more than you need. It just makes customization more work than you should have to deal with. I used Symphony for a friend's blog, WorseThanHorses.com, and I actually really liked it. It's really customizable and flexible, but I didn't think it was as intuitive as Textpattern.
TXPQ Do your clients love the ease of a Textpattern system?
MM I do use it a lot with clients, and I rarely get complaints. Usually everyone is just thrilled that they can update their own content.
TXPQ Any comments about what clients like or don't like or how they use Textpattern?
The one thing I would like to see work differently for clients, is the connection between articles and imagesMM The one thing I would like to see work differently for clients, is the connection between articles and images. There is a disconnect between uploading images and posting articles that seems easily bridged with an upload form and small dialog box under the Write tab.
TXPQ Do you use many plugins?
MM I do, almost too many to name. My favorites though are rss_auto_excerpt, ran_tags, ajw_comments_feed, and nhn_livecommentpreview.
TXPQ What do you think of the TXP plugin system?
MM I love it. It makes choosing Textpattern so much easier. There are so many solutions to be had with a plugin, I can't think of a problem I haven't been able to tackle with either TXP's built in features or a plugin.
Design and Music
TXPQ You are a very creative human being - what's you primary activity - a musician, artist, designer, web designer?
MM I guess I think of myself primarily as a designer. I could be really broad and say artist, but I like designer. I do love making music, but I don't think of it as primary.
TXPQ
I enjoyed reading your article about City. Great artwork, unique format and packaging, and even to my old ears the song sounds good and potentially could be really good, with remixing etc. Is it all your own work?
MM I did record City all by myself. It's all my vocals, guitar work, and various other instruments. The only thing I didn't create were some of the drum loops. City was just a project I thought would be fun and gave me a chance to design a different kind of album packaging.
TXPQ What equipment/software did you use for the music on City?
MM I recorded it while in Savannah, GA, so I just used my mac, garageband, and my Gibson SG. At home in Massachusetts I have a bit more of a recording set up, but I just used what I had at the time.
TXPQ Have you made a lot of music?
MM I have. Like I said earlier, it's not my primary form of creativity, but I love doing it, and I'm constantly writing or recording some kind of music.
TXPQ On your own, in a band?
MM I make a lot of music on my own. I'm in a band with my friend Casey called Something Explosive. We're actually working on a new album right now. No idea when we'll finish. I've been in a lot more bands too. I was in hardcore bands growing up. I always really enjoy that kind of music.
TXPQ I like your philosophy, Matt. Thank you for the interview. Good luck with your endeavours whether they be musical, graphical, webical or whatever.
Comments Feed