Web Application Architect, Founder of Rastin Mehr Design Studio Inc. and co-founder of Tazzu ™ Networking Ltd an online knowledge networking community.

In 1990, Rastin received  his first Personal Computer, an Amiga 500. He used it to compose tunes inspired by Pink Floyd in his one man band music studio.

In 1999, at the time of Dot Com boom, he became so fascinated with the Internet phenomenon that he changed his field of studies from Dentistry and enrolled in the Computer Science Program at the University of Northern BC. He reflects on that turning point as the best decision he ever made.

He believes "Software Architecture is the closest thing to a Love affair!”.

Inspired by people such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Frank Lloyd Wright and their ideas about fusing Art and Science, he also diversified his field of studies in areas such as Marketing, Visual Design, Fine Arts and Photography. His goal was to someday create intelligent, and aesthetically pleasing systems that are suitable for everyday human life. 

While still at university, he started rmd Studio as a home-based freelance Web/Graphic Design business, doing projects for University of Northern BC, and other clients he met through networking.

In 2001, one of his projects won the first undergraduate award at IDEAWorks ( Innovation Resource Center ) trade show, presenting the idea of using Object-Oriented principals in developing Web Interfaces. In a case study published by IDEAWorks, he was mentioned as the “Magician of Web Design” a Science Major with Fine Arts electives.

In 2003, he developed his first Web Application. A Learning Management System functioning as a course and program repository for medical and nursing students In British Columbia. This was a pilot project directed by Dr. Patrick Mann and a collaboration of 4 other universities ( UVIC, UBC, RRU, and SFU ).

In the same year, he developed his first commercially used online Wedding Registry System.

In 2004, he was given the opportunity by Dr. Saif Al Zahir to create the curriculum for a Senior Level Computer Science course ( Advanced User Interface Design ), which studied the applications of Model View Controller Architecture in developing Web Applications. This project was later on displayed in ASI exchange, and IDEAWorks trade shows. ( Prince George Citizen article )

Volunteer Activities 

Former Development Workgroup member of Joomla! CMS from 2006 to 2008

Collaborated as a Mentor with Google Summer of Code 2007 and Joomla! CMS Core Development Team, to incorporate Mootools javascript library into Joomla! CMS version 1.5 core engine.

Summer 2006 – Participated as a Mentor with Google Summer of Code and Joomla! CMS Core Development Team , collaborating with student Blagovest Dachev to develop the AJAX framework for Joomla! CMS version 2.0

Hobbies

Rastin is an avid photographer, he spends his spare time conducting Glamour, Dance, Drama, Architecture, Interiors, and conceptual photography sessions. Some of his works can be viewed on his flickr account, and his Photography Journal ( www.NetPhotography.com ).

One of his most recent hobbies is Fashion Illustration which is still a work in progress.

He also really enjoys the Vancouver’s night life and Swing Dance events. The combination of Vancouver’s beautiful nature and urban lifestyle contributes much to his inspirations.

Inspirational People

Leonardo Da Vinci – Rastin views Da Vinci as the genius inventor who mastered and fused Science and Fine Arts in his inventions.

Charles Darwin – for starting the foundations of Evolution Theory and Natural Selection.

Frank Lloyd Wright – and his ideas of Organic Architecture and Integration of a structure with its natural surroundings.

Helen Keller – for her ability to change and conquer the world with the power of her mind despite being deaf and blind. Something Napolean failed to accomplish with his army of men according to Mark Twain.