About Michael Macias

I come up with ideas and figure out how to make them real.

Whether it's a physical hardware prototype, a spatial UI dashboard, an optical trick, or an aerodynamic bike modification, my default setting is building.

I hold degrees in Computer Engineering and Physics from the University of Utah. These disciplines give me a very rare toolkit:

• Physics gives me an intuitive grasp of optics, light transport, fluid dynamics, and physical forces.

• Computer Engineering gives me the embedded systems and software skills to bring physical hardware to life.

Athletics & The Pursuit of Efficiency

When I'm not in a CAD viewport or behind a code editor, I'm training and competing as a high-level triathlete. To me, high-performance athletics and prototyping are the exact same discipline: a relentless pursuit of small optimizations and improvements to achieve a goal.

I apply my 3D modeling and parametric CAD skills directly to my race setup to gain every possible aerodynamic advantage:

• Custom Aerodynamic Handlebars: Modeled to match my exact arm position for optimal aerodynamics.

• Custom Aero Water Bottles: Fabricated to fit my bike's frame geometry perfectly.

• Flush Mounts: Custom mounts designed and fabricated to sit completely flush with the frame.

• Integrated HUD Helmet: My senior project was a helmet-integrated Heads-Up Display (HUD) engineered and tested under real-world athletic conditions.

My Prototyping Philosophy

If I spot an unsolved problem or a friction point in the world, I open Plasticity, Blender, or VS Code and prototype a proof of concept.