Mattaniah Aytenfsu
Creative technologist Mattaniah Aytenfsu is turning code into a creative canvas
On any given day, Mattaniah Aytenfsu could be building art installations, tinkering with digital tools or crafting kinetic sculptures – the result of a practice shaped by multiple disciplines. Trained in computer science and graphic design, Mattaniah’s work sees engineering meet visual expression. “I’m interested in how computation shapes how we see, feel or relate,” she says. That curiosity took her from being a full-stack engineer at Google to shaping design systems at YouTube – and now, a creative technologist building experimental projects at Le Truc. We chat to Mattaniah about staying curious, learning by doing and carving out a career between technology and art.
About my work
My creative practice
I build interactive systems, generative tools and installations that use code as a medium for expression. My work explores how emerging tech can help us connect more deeply with ourselves, each other and the natural world. That ranges from browser-based creative tools to kinetic sculptures driven by celestial data. I’m interested in how computation shapes how we see, feel or relate – and how we can use it to empower curiosity and play.
Influences and inspiration
Solange’s worldbuilding and design work at Saint Heron, the coastal landscape of Northern California, Octavia Butler, Brian Eno.
Process video of Mattaniah's work for Toro y Moi
My training
I studied computer science and graphic design in college and I'm grateful I learned the fundamentals of both separately before combining them in the way I do in my current practice. A couple of years post-grad, I took a 12-week Creative Code Intensive hosted by Gray Area in San Francisco which really opened up my perspective on the world of creative technology.
All that said, you don't need a specific degree – just curiosity, patience and a willingness to experiment. Tools change constantly, and AI has made coding more accessible than ever. What is essential is design literacy. Good design fundamentals translate across mediums, guiding your taste, your decision-making and the way you build systems that feel intuitive and expressive.
Favourite recent project
"Where We Land," a kinetic steel sculpture inspired by planetary motion. It was my first time working at this scale physically – combining engineering (electrical and software), design and sculpture. Seeing something move in physical space and not just on a screen changed the way I think about computational art. It has also expanded my practice into more tactile, mechanical forms, which feels like an exciting direction.
Where We Land (2025) for NEW INC’s DEMO festival, on display at WSA, NYC
A normal day usually looks like…
My days are split between creative tech work at my agency job and my personal art practice. I’ll start with moodboarding, planning or researching new tech before shifting into web development and design work for clients.
Later in the day, I transition into my personal practice: coding prototypes, building interactive systems or fabricating elements for installations. Evenings are usually quieter and spent editing videos, reading through digital archives and art books, or sketching ideas. No two days look the same, which I love.
“I studied computer science and graphic design in college, and slowly realized that the space between the two was where I felt most at home.”
How I got here
Starting my creative journey
I didn’t have a traditional art school background. I studied computer science and graphic design in college, and slowly realized that the space between the two was where I felt most at home.
When I graduated, I started working as a full-stack software engineer at Google, but eventually shifted to becoming a UX engineer in YouTube’s art department. There, I got to help shape the design systems across the brand and platform. I started building small interactive projects for myself, posting my experiments online and teaching myself through trial, error and free tutorials on the internet.
Still from a TouchDesigner texture study exploring distortion, feedback and layering
Landing my first few jobs, clients and commissions
It was a mix of sharing my experiments online and being clear about what excites me. I posted process videos, failures and in-progress systems, not just polished work. That transparency helped people understand how I think, which mattered just as much as the final output. My first major clients found me through TikTok and word-of-mouth.
Biggest challenge along the way
Learning how to advocate for myself: both creatively and financially. As someone navigating both tech and arts spaces, it took me time to understand my value and to negotiate confidently. Balancing paid work with my own art has also been an ongoing challenge.
Skills I've found helpful for my creative work
Problem-solving, pattern recognition and thinking in systems. Coding teaches you how to break ideas down, while art teaches you how to build meaning back in.
Geometry gif
My social media and self-promotion vibe is…
It definitely matters but it doesn’t have to consume you. Earlier in my career, I definitely let it consume me more than I’m proud to admit. I found myself starting to think of projects with the filter of “how will this perform online” – and that’s a slippery slope.
You don’t need to chase virality or constantly be online, you just need clarity about what you want to share. Showing process, not perfection, made my work more approachable and helped people understand the thinking behind it. Be consistent enough that people know what you care about, but protect your creative boundaries.
Three things I’ve found useful in my career:
- Octavia Butler’s Parable series – a grounding philosophy for understanding change and evolution.
- are.na – I love going down research rabbit holes and connecting the dots later.
- TikTok – not glamorous, but it’s where most of my audience and early opportunities came from.
“Not every project needs to be profitable. Some pieces exist to move your practice forward.”
My greatest learnings when it comes to making money and supporting myself as a creative have been…
Diversify your income: freelancing, teaching, commissions and sometimes a stable tech role. Get comfortable talking about money early, negotiate, use contracts and charge for both time and usage.
Also, understand what you personally need to feel stable. That might be a full-time job that takes more time and funds your creative practice, or it might be staying independent with a less stable income but more time and freedom. I’ve personally done both and found that for my current life stage, the consistency of a day job allows me to put less pressure on my creative practice.
Lastly, not every project needs to be profitable. Some pieces exist to move your practice forward.
Generative visual built in TouchDesigner for a commissioned project with Toro y Moi
Advice
Best career-related advice I've ever received
Trust and invest in your interests and curiosities. Your next thing is out there on the periphery, even if you can't see or articulate it yet. Also, always try to recognize when you are giving more to your company than they are giving you.
Where I go to feel connected as a creative
Community spaces like NEW INC, artist talks, creative workshops, and Hex House, my shared art studio space in NYC.
“Don’t wait for a 'big break' – build your practice piece by piece.”
What I'd say to someone looking to get into a similar role
Start small and experiment publicly. Pick one thing you want to learn – be it a tool, a concept or a sensor – and build tiny projects around it. Share the process, not just the final output. Don’t wait for a 'big break' – build your practice piece by piece. And stay playful: curiosity fuels longevity more than perfection.