Maks Surguy’s passion for human-computer interaction was the perfect match for UW's Master of Science in Technology Innovation program.
By David Fenigsohn
The range of Maks Surguy’s talents—from coding to art to breakdancing—could make one’s head spin. Just not as fast as his.
Surguy, a 2018 graduate of the Master of Science in Technology Innovation (MSTI), is somewhat of a modern-day Renaissance man. His interest in using technology across art, user experiences, hardware, and programming made him an ideal candidate for the MSTI program at the University of Washington’s Global Innovation Exchange (GIX). The program fuses engineering, business, and design, all areas in which Surguy is exploring and pushing boundaries. It also paved the way for his current role at Amazon.
GIX, a new partnership between the Foster School of Business and the College of Engineering, offers graduate and other tech-focused programs from custom-built facilities in Bellevue on Seattle’s Eastside. Its 18-month MSTI degree is a STEM-designated program that offers students prototyping labs, design studios, and makerspaces equipped with 3D printers, an electronics workshop, robotics components, and more. This emphasis on hands-on prototype creation separates GIX from the standard business or computer science program—exactly what attracted Surguy.
Finding the perfect fit at GIX
While at GIX, Surguy and a classmate built MYHouse, a next-generation smart dollhouse that uses machine learning and gesture recognition to control various objects within the creation. Users can interact with the house by waving a “magic wand” to control actions such as turning a television on and off, opening and closing shutters, and adjusting the lighting. The project was featured in MagPi, a publication covering the world of Raspberry Pi computing.
As a member of the inaugural MSTI class, Surguy took courses that expanded his technical skills and were vital in his transition from a programmer to a usability engineer. Today, Surguy remains involved with GIX, helping guide and shape the program as a member of the GIX Advisory Council.
Navigating between hardware and software at Amazon
Surguy currently works as a Senior UX Design Technologist at Amazon, where he applies his multidisciplinary expertise to enhance the company’s product lines.
“It’s a unique role that falls between design and engineering,” he says. “We create concepts of new hardware and software experiences.”
For example, Surguy played a role in developing the dynamic art display that appears on Fire TVs. The display adapts based on factors such as the time of day and the weather conditions in your area. He has also been working on the latest version of a robotic Alexa device.
“That’s an example of navigating between hardware and software,” he says. “Before it was made, we produced virtual reality prototypes to understand how it should react if, for example, multiple people are speaking in the room.”
“I wanted a master’s degree program that went beyond just software. I was looking for something new, something that combined electronics and computer science. GIX was perfect for me.” – Maks Surguy
A child prodigy in design and dance
Technology and its applications have been a lifelong passion for Surguy. He grew up in Ukraine. As a boy, he was a technology and engineering prodigy. He learned from his father, who worked in construction, and young Maks applied his skills to robots and rockets. At 12 years old, he saw a video of a Levitron, a toy that uses magnets to hover in the air, and figured out how to reverse-engineer it and build his own version of the device.
“From there, I transitioned into making remote control airplanes,” he recalls. “I built dozens of small-scale airplanes years before drones were popular.” He’d experiment and tinker, building progressively increasingly sophisticated fully functional remote-control planes from scratch.
But Surguy wasn’t only interested in science and technology. As a teenager, he was introduced to breakdancing and became one of Eastern Europe’s top dancers, touring through Ukraine and Russia as a professional in a burgeoning scene.
As a teenager, Maks Surguy was a champion breakdancer. He dropped by the University of Washington campus and showed off a move in the Gates Center.
“It started as just a hobby,” he says. “Some friends and I created a team, and we would practice for hours a day. We were invited to competitions and shows all over.” A gifted gymnast, Surguy’s technique emphasized flips, stands, and dizzying spins. “I unofficially beat the world record in head spins!”
Surguy’s family emigrated to Southern California when he was 17. He earned his undergraduate degree in computer science and further developed his coding skills. He jumped into myriad programming projects, developing websites, learning new languages, and exploring computer-assisted and generated art. By day, he worked as a software and usability engineer for NBC News. In the evening, he published books on software development and experimented with the intersection of visual art and computer code. Since then, his art has expanded into new mediums and is celebrated in the art technology community.
Creating art from algorithms
Surguy’s piece “Vector Field 005.”
Bridging software and physical worlds is also at the heart of Surguy’s multimedia art projects. “I create generative art. It’s art based on algorithms, so it’s infinitely unique. I can adjust some settings, and it will appear differently,” he explains. Such pieces can exist as NFTs or be displayed digitally.
Surguy also creates plotter art, leveraging machines to create intricate vector graphic drawings. He uses software to blend shape, color, and patterns to find beauty in mathematics.
Maksim Surguy’s artworks are inspired by nature and are produced through use of mathematics and coding.
His work has been displayed in exhibits on the Amazon campus and in Seattle’s NFT museum. He also shares his work on his Instagram account.
Skills that complement and inform one another
Surguy’s work, art, and education all share a common thread of synthesizing technology with other artistic, business, and human behavior disciplines. He brought a range of skills and talents to GIX, a program with the same holistic approach to education. Earning his MSTI at the University of Washington enabled him to practice and grow, teaching him new skills and how his talents can complement and inform one another.
Maks Surguy’s interest in using technology across art, user experiences, hardware, and programming made him an ideal candidate for the Master of Science in Technology Innovation (MSTI) at the University of Washington’s Global Innovation Exchange (GIX).
“I have a passion for human-computer interaction, and I used that in my work, art, and in my projects when I was in school,” he says. “And now, with the AI revolution upon us, it’s a promising age for people like me. I can test out different ideas quickly and create more complex projects. I’m not sure what they will be, but I’m excited about it.”
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