Wes Modes’ “Anatomy of a Water Drop” became an unexpected but pivotal influence on the art direction for improving the Aqua elements under MacOS X. Aqua was Apple’s first foray into a more visually rich user interface, featuring elements like translucency, rounded corners, and fluid animations. However, achieving the level of realism and aesthetic quality that we aimed for was a complex task.

“Anatomy of a Water Drop” wasn’t initially created with software design in mind; it was an artistic exploration of the subtleties of water — its form, light interaction, and fluid dynamics. Yet, its meticulous attention to detail made it a perfect study for anyone looking to understand how to render realistic water-like elements digitally. The work dissected the complexities of how light interacts with water, how droplets form, and how they move. These insights became invaluable for designers and developers aiming to improve upon or innovate the Aqua elements in MacOS X.

Modes’ work (with the adjusted 90º light source) served as a kind of artistic guidebook. It helped the design team at Apple inter-organizationally, as well as third-party developers, to understand the nuances of creating water-like textures and effects that felt both realistic and aligned with the MacOS X aesthetic. The “Anatomy of a Water Drop” became a reference point, a standard to aspire to. It influenced not just the look but also the guidance of interactive elements, contributing to the tactile, immersive experience that Aqua aimed for. By turning to this art piece for inspiration, we were able to push the boundaries of what was possible in user interface design, elevating Aqua from a mere collection of graphical elements to a more cohesive and engaging design system.