One of the areas that GRAND seeks to explore is the role of design in the research, development and deployment of technology. Another is the integrated, multi-disciplinary understanding of the technical and methodological aspects of new media as well as its social, legal, economic and cultural aspects.
As I think about these themes, I cannot help but think of a person who has acted as my guide in such multi-disciplinary thinking. His is a name that deserves to be well known to all in Canada but who is little known beyond his circle of friends, collaborators and business colleagues. Greg Hermanovic is a person who embodies what GRAND is striving to better understand, a person who 
combines a deep knowledge of and skill in computer programming with an enthusiasm and interest in art, architectural design and music. Many of us who work with technology enjoy the arts but Greg works to make his technical skills available to world class artists, architects and musicians.
He honed his programming skills at SPAR Aerospace where he helped programme the Canadarm. He then worked with one of the researchers in GRAND, Professor Ron Baecker, at HCI. When this venture that was ahead of its time floundered, Greg and Kim Davidson joined a 3D animation company. When that venture also floundered, Greg and Kim bought the assets and turned it into Side Effects Software that produces world class animation tools for the movie industry. There they have won numerous Academy Awards. Here he did some creative and innovative work with Michael Snow. They collaborated on an experimental movie, Corpus Callosum in 2002.
But Greg wanted to do more, to blend art and architecture and design and music using technology. So he created Derivative Inc., using software that he derived from the Side Effects software (under license of course). At Derivative, Greg has done animations to interact with the music of Rush at their concerts, has assisted Disney with an interactive experience where children can meet and converse with characters from Finding Nemo, has worked with artists from around the world to use animation in their 3D art, has worked with architects in Tokyo and Sydney Australia to allow their buildings to create and exhibit special effects on the sides of their buildings. I suggest that Greg should be a person that we study and emulate and admire. Thanks Greg for the inspiration that you have given us.
C. Ian Kyer is counsel at Fasken Martineau and the chair of the board of directors for GRAND. His blog takes readers on a tour of legal issues and perspectives as applied to the fascinating world of graphics, animation and new media in Canada.
