Going Rogue

Rogue Amoeba’s founder and designer give their design opinions

Rogue Amoeba makes some great apps, and its Audio Hijack app has evolved from sporting an Aqua interface in 2002 to the distinctive look and feel of the newly launched Audio Hijack 4 (p92). We spoke to founder Paul Kafasis and designer Neale Van Fleet about their design likes and dislikes.

Which design crime would you ban? Paul: I’d be the anti-Burger King and abolish ‘hamburger menus’ on websites. They’re bad, and they should feel bad; they’re a dumping ground for anything and everything.

Do you have a soft spot for any of Apple’s old skeuomorphic designs? Neil: Honestly, I have a soft spot for all of it in much the same way I have a soft spot for LEGO… when the iPad was first announced I began working on a chess game, Checkmates, with my brother Nathan. We wanted to create the look of a real chess board with 3D-looking wooden pieces and a wooden board. We actually finished the first version without ever having used the actual iPad hardware.

Paul: When I think back, the things that jump to mind are Apple’s excesses; the brushed metal of QuickTime Player, the buttons embedded in leather in iCal, and if you think back far enough, pinstripes – pinstripes everywhere. But there’s a lot to love. So much colour, so little monochrome, and the icons have such personality.