About this paper

During a recent large scale project for a car manufacturer, came in contact with Maya, a high-end tool for 3D-visualization. Although I really love the handling of Maya, most of its 3D-modeling tools and the over-all concept of the interface, I think there are some serious issues within the design of the interface. I started this redesign mostly for fun. I am very interested in interface-design and therefore Maya is quiet a good subject of studying. I don't think that there is anybody outside, who really knows anything about this tool (excepting its programmers at Alias and maybe gmask and some other people at highend3d.com). I read five or so books and talked to a lot with other users of maya.

I also have got experience with some other 3D-programmes like 3dsMax, AutoCad, Medit, Microstation, Form-Z, Lightscape (not really a modeling tool), Poser (too) and Multigen Creator. Maya has a better interface than any of these tools (excepting some aspects of Multigen) but it's definitely not perfect. If you look at certain aspects of Poser or Softimage it is really obvious that there is is a huge potential of improvement. I think that one of my favourite programmes should not only create amazingly good pictures. I also want it to look amazingly good, while I am working with it.

After I posted the first version of my suggestions under highend3d.com there were a lot of argument about colors and fency interfaces vs. workflow. I really learned in this thread and redid most of my design.

Thanks for ideas and feedback: M. Elsässer, N. Mühr, C.Mantei, I. Radusch, A. Baslik, O. Markowski, Joojaa, beaker, askaniblue, STZ, a.m.o.