Rolf Ebeling was new to Microsoft when he was tapped to design the Windows 7 startup animation. Ebeling sought inspiration for the animation from the light, color, and energy in everyday things.

When Rolf Ebeling was working on the Windows 7 startup animation, he sought inspiration all around him.

“Having only been with the company for four months and suddenly finding myself working on the first thing millions of people would see when they started up Windows 7 … was a peculiar realization to wake up to each morning,” Ebeling says.

He squinted at the way streetlights glowed in the rain. He watched the way light reflected on water. He looked at the electric zigzag of fireflies in flight. Ebeling knew the Microsoft Windows team wanted something that reflected the feeling of the new operating system—light, color, energy.

Ebeling created a 105-frame startup animation hoping to give users something beautiful and familiar during those few seconds when Windows 7 starts up. Now, every day millions watch Ebeling's design: four swirling points of light that come together to form a pulsing Windows 7 flag.

"We never lost sight that we wanted the boot-up to be faster, but thought, 'Well, if people are going to be there we should make it attractive and something that inspires confidence,'" said Ebeling, a senior user experience lead for the User Experience Design and Research Team for Windows, Windows Live and Internet Explorer.

Before joining Microsoft in April 2008, Ebeling was creative director for Newsweek.com in New York City. In his eight years at Newsweek, he was on call 24 hours a day during one of the most eventful decades in news history, covering everything from terrorist attacks to war to landmark elections.

A self-taught designer with a degree in English literature, Ebeling never held a software job until he came to Microsoft. Along with developing the startup animation for Windows 7, he also helped with the appearance and functionality of the calculator.

"It has been an eye-opening 18 months, as you might imagine," he said. "It's a lot to learn. I keep hearing that fire-hose metaphor—it felt like multiple fire hoses."

PressPass: What was the biggest challenge or hurdle you faced working on the Windows 7 startup animation?

Ebeling: Biggest challenge? Having only been with the company for four months and suddenly finding myself working on the first thing millions of people would see when they started up Windows 7. That was a peculiar realization to wake up to each morning.

Continue:  Designer Wanted to Give Windows 7 Users Something Beautiful Rolf Ebeling was new to Microsoft wh

Send via e-mail | Submit to Digg | Add to Live Favorites